WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency announced Dec. 19 it awarded about $3.5 billion in contracts to four companies to build 72 missile-tracking satellites for the next phase of a low Earth orbit constellation designed to detect and follow advanced missile threats.

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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...