Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 💫 SpaceX is set to launch the 2nd Tranche 0 mission for the Space Development Agency on August 31st at 7:26 a.m. PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
- 🚀 The mission involves deploying 13 payloads into a Polar Orbit, constituting the 2nd flight of this small satellite constellation.
- 🛰️ The Space Development Agency, a part of the U.S. Department of Defense, is focused on space-based communications for U.S. warfighters globally.
- 🛸 The Tranche 0 group includes 28 satellites, with 10 previously launched by Falcon 9, and 2 built by SpaceX, while 8 were built by York Space Systems.
- 💰 SpaceX secured a $149 million contract in 2020 to build 4 satellites for missile launch tracking, using its Starlink satellite bus.
- 🌍 The Falcon 9 launch will have Lockheed Martin-built satellites, with uncertainty about inclusion of SpaceX-built or L3Harris satellites.
- 🎯 Booster 1063 will be used for this launch, marking its 13th flight.
- 🏞️ After launch, Falcon 9 will return for a landing at Landing Zone 4, a short distance from takeoff.
- 📹 SpaceX’s webcast will start 15 minutes before the scheduled launch time.
SpaceX has set its sights on launching the 2nd Tranche 0 mission for the Space Development Agency on August 31st at 7:26 a.m. PT (14:26 UTC). The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The Tranche 0, Flight 2 mission encompasses 13 payloads that are destined for deployment into a Polar Orbit. As indicated by the mission name, this is the second flight of the small satellite constellation within Tranche 0. The Tranche 1 swarm is anticipated for a launch in late 2024.
The Space Development Agency, a branch of the United States Department of Defense, focuses on establishing space-based communication systems for U.S. military personnel across the world. The Tranche 0 group will involve a total of 28 satellites, of which 10 were previously launched by a Falcon 9 in April 2023. Among these, 2 satellites were constructed by SpaceX, while the remaining 8 were built by York Space Systems.
In October 2020, SpaceX secured a contract valued at $149 million to manufacture 4 satellites designed for tracking missile launches. These satellites are based on the company’s Starlink satellite bus, marking SpaceX’s maiden contract for constructing a satellite for the U.S. Government. Additionally, L3Harris secured a contract valued at $193.5 million to create 4 similar satellites.
The upcoming launch is set to include 10 satellites built by Lockheed Martin. However, as of the time of writing, it remains uncertain whether the launch will also accommodate the other satellites constructed by SpaceX or the L3Harris satellites.
The Falcon 9 providing the ride to space for these payloads is Booster 1063. B1063 will be flying for the 13th time, having previously supported 8 Starlink missions, NASA’s DART mission, ESA’s Sentinel 6 Michael Freilich mission, Transporter 7 mission, and the Iridium-9/OneWeb Flight 19 mission.
Following the first phase of flight, the Falcon 9 will perform a boostback burn and return for a landing at Landing Zone 4, just 1,400 feet from where it took off minutes before.
SpaceX will begin its webcast 15 minutes before the scheduled launch time.
