Full stack of 21 satellites made by York Space Systems for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 1. Credit: York Space Systems

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is preparing to launch the first satellites intended to provide communications services from a low Earth orbit military constellation. The mission, targeted for no earlier than September 10, will carry 21 spacecraft built by York Space Systems — marking the opening deployment of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

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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...