Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, acting director of the Space Development Agency, speaks at the Mitchell Institute Fourth Annual Spacepower Security Forum at the Army Navy Country Club. Credit: Jud McCrehin, Air & Space Forces Association

ARLINGTON, Va. — When 21 Lockheed Martin satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 1 launched Oct. 15, each carried three laser communication terminals instead of the planned four, reflecting a shortfall in the supply of optical crosslink hardware.

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Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...