SAIC to lead SDA’s T3 program and integration.

Summary

T-Minus Space Daily: SAIC to Lead SDA’s T3 Program and Integration

Date Released: April 23, 2025

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Introduction

In today’s episode of T-Minus Space Daily, hosted by Alice Carruth from N2K Networks, listeners are presented with a comprehensive intelligence briefing on significant developments in the global space industry. The episode, titled “SAIC to lead SDA’s T3 program and integration,” delves into major contracts, funding milestones, international collaborations, and upcoming missions that are shaping the future of space exploration and security.

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Key Highlights

1. SAIC Secures $55 Million Contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA)

   Alice Carruth opens the briefing by announcing that Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has been awarded a substantial contract by the U.S. Space Development Agency. The contract, valued at nearly $55 million, is designated for the Tranche 3 (T3) program integration effort within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

   • Integration and Systems Engineering: The contract encompasses systems engineering and integration support activities essential for delivering T3 space vehicles. These vehicles are pivotal for the transport, tracking, and custody layers of the PWSA ground segment. The integration aims to enhance the continuous custody of target tracks, a capability planned for the future custody layer.

   • Program Objectives: The SDA envisions the T3 program to provide sustained capabilities with significant advancements over Tranche Two. The work is slated to be performed in Washington, D.C., with an expected completion date of April 30, 2030.

   • Quote: Alice Carruth states, “This contract provides for system engineering and integration support activities enabling the delivery of the Tranche 3 space vehicles for transport, tracking and custody layers and their integration within the PWSA ground segment.” ([03:00])

2. Northwood Space Raises $30 Million in Series A Funding

   In another significant development, Northwood Space has successfully raised $30 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round, aiming to bolster its global ground network infrastructure.

   • Expansion Plans: CEO and co-founder Bridget Mendler shared via LinkedIn that Northwood is focused on building the largest shared network in throughput and link capacity. The company plans to equip its sites with the capability to scale up to 100Gbps backhaul and aims to deploy multi-link sites across six continents by the end of 2026.

   • Strategic Vision: The infusion of capital is intended to support the rapid scaling of their ground network to meet the demands of expanding satellite missions globally.

   • Quote: Bridget Mendler commented, “We are building a global ground network engineered to scale as fast as the missions support.” ([04:15])

3. ESA’s Earth Explorer Biomass Satellite Set for Vega C Launch

   The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that its Earth Explorer Biomass satellite has been secured atop the Vega C rocket at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana, with a scheduled liftoff on April 29.

   • Mission Capabilities: The Biomass satellite is the first to carry an AP band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capable of penetrating forest canopies. This technology will enable precise measurements of forest biomass and height across various forest types globally.

   • Mission Duration and Objectives: Expected to operate for at least five years, the satellite will monitor eight growth cycles in the world's forests. The mission aims to enhance current assessments and future projections of the global carbon cycle, providing better insights into habitat loss rates and their impacts on forest biodiversity.

   • Quote: Alice Carruth highlighted, “Biomass is the first satellite to carry AP band synthetic aperture radar capable of penetrating the forest canopy to measure the biomass and height of forests across the globe.” ([05:50])

4. Strategic Collaborations: Mission Space & Starcatcher and Reflex Aerospace & Umbra

   The episode also covers strategic partnerships that are pivotal for advancing space technologies and ensuring robust supply chains.

   • Mission Space and Starcatcher Partnership:

     • Objective: The collaboration aims to advance real-time space weather monitoring and orbital power solutions.

     • Integration: Mission Space will provide real-time space weather data and predictive models to support Starcatcher’s orbital power grid. In return, Starcatcher will deliver additional power to Mission Space’s satellites under a newly established power purchase agreement.

     • Quote: Alice Carruth explains, “This collaboration combines Mission Space's space weather forecasting technologies with Starcatcher's orbital power grid, designed to enhance satellite performance by eliminating power constraints.” ([06:20])

   • Reflex Aerospace and Umbra Collaboration:

     • Focus: The partnership centers on providing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) solutions tailored for Europe.

     • Supply Chain Emphasis: Umbra will customize and build its SAR solutions for Reflex Aerospace to integrate into a dedicated satellite bus. The collaboration emphasizes a stable, European-focused supply chain to prioritize national sovereignty.

     • Quote: Carruth remarks, “Umbra will customize and build its SAR solutions for integration by Reflex into a dedicated satellite bus hosting the payload.” ([06:45])

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Additional Insights

Producer Liz Stokes provides supplementary information, highlighting upcoming Chinese space activities and Boeing's financial results:

• China’s Shenzhou 20 Mission: Scheduled for launch, this mission underscores China's advancing capabilities in human spaceflight. However, it faces accusations from China’s lunar chief alleging U.S. interference in joint space programs.

• Boeing’s First Quarter Financial Results: Details on Boeing’s financial performance, indicating the company’s stance and developments within the aerospace sector.

• Quote: Liz Stokes notes, “They’re planning on launching the Shenzhou 20 mission tomorrow, and their lunar chief is accusing the US of interfering in joint space programs.” ([07:06])

Listeners are encouraged to visit space.n2k.com for further reading and detailed show notes.

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Conclusion

The April 23, 2025, episode of T-Minus Space Daily provides listeners with critical updates on major contracts, funding achievements, international collaborations, and upcoming missions that are instrumental in shaping the future landscape of the space industry. From SAIC's pivotal role in the SDA's T3 program to Northwood Space's ambitious expansion and ESA's groundbreaking Biomass satellite launch, the episode encapsulates the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of space intelligence and analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Alice Carruth: “This contract provides for system engineering and integration support activities enabling the delivery of the Tranche 3 space vehicles for transport, tracking and custody layers and their integration within the PWSA ground segment.” ([03:00])

• Bridget Mendler, Northwood Space CEO: “We are building a global ground network engineered to scale as fast as the missions support.” ([04:15])

• Alice Carruth: “Biomass is the first satellite to carry AP band synthetic aperture radar capable of penetrating the forest canopy to measure the biomass and height of forests across the globe.” ([05:50])

• Alice Carruth: “This collaboration combines Mission Space's space weather forecasting technologies with Starcatcher's orbital power grid, designed to enhance satellite performance by eliminating power constraints.” ([06:20])

• Liz Stokes: “They’re planning on launching the Shenzhou 20 mission tomorrow, and their lunar chief is accusing the US of interfering in joint space programs.” ([07:06])

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Stay Connected

For more detailed insights and continuous updates, visit N2K Networks and explore additional resources related to today’s topics. Share your feedback to help improve future episodes and stay informed with the latest in space intelligence and analysis.

Transcript

[Alice Carruth]

Foreign.

[Maria Varmazes]

You're listening to the N2K space network. What's the common denominator in security incidents? Escalations and lateral movement. When a privileged account is compromised, attackers can seize control of critical assets with bad directory hygiene and years of technical debt. Identity attack paths are easy targets for threat actors to exploit, but hard for defenders to detect. This poses risk in active directory, entra ID and hybrid configurations. Identity leaders are reducing such risks with attack path management. You can learn how Attack Path Management is connecting identity and security teams while reducing risk with Bloodhound Enterprise powered by SpectreOps. Head to SpectreOps IO today to learn more SpectreOps. See your attack paths the way adversaries do.

[Alice Carruth]

Today is April 23rd, 2025. Happy St. George's Day. I'm Alice Carruth and this is T minus.

[Maria Varmazes]

T minus 20 seconds to LOS.

[Alice Carruth]

Mission space and Starcatcher are partnering to advance real time space weather monitor and orbital power solutions. Reflex Aerospace and Umbra are collaborating on synthetic aperture radar solutions for Europe. ESA's Earth Explorer biomass satellite has been secured on top of the Vega C rocket ahead of liftoff on April 29. Northward Space has raised $30 million in a series A funding round to support a global ground network. The U.S. space Development Agency has awarded $55 million to SAIC for Tranche 3 program and INT. So happy hump day everybody. I hope you're having a great week. You have me on the mic until Friday. Our host Maria Varmazes will be back from vacation next week. Let's dive into today's intelligence briefing, shall we? The U.S. space Development Agency has awarded Science Applications International Corp. Better known as SAIC, just shy of $55 million for the Tranche 3 program integration effort of the proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture known as pwsa. SDA released the solicitation late last year seeking industry proposals to provide systems engineering and integration activities supporting the T3 programme. This contract provides for system engineering and integration support activities enabling the delivery of the Tranche 3 space vehicles for transport, tracking and custody layers and their integration within the PWSA ground segment. The latter T3 custody layer is an envisioned future layer of the PWSA that would add the capability of continuous custody of target tracks. The SDA envisions the T3 program to provide sustained capability with advances over that developed with Tranche two. The work on this contract will be performed in Washington, D.C. and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2030. Northwood Space has raised $30 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. Bridget Mendler, CEO and co founder of Northwood, shared on LinkedIn that the company is building a global ground network engineered to scale as fast as the missions supports. She says they have their sights set on building the largest shared network in throughput and link capacity. Northward is planning to outfit their sites with the ability to scale up to 100Gbps backhaul and are aiming to deploy multi link sites covering six continents by the end of 2026. The European Space Agency's Earth Explorer biomass satellite is scheduled to launch on a Vega C rocket from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana next week. On April 29, the biomass satellite has arrived at the launch pad and is now secured atop the Vega C launch vehicle. Biomass is the first satellite to carry AP band synthetic aperture radar capable of penetrating the forest canopy to measure the biomass and height of forests across the globe and across different forest types. The satellite will spend at least five years making detailed observations and witnessing at least eight growth cycles in the world's forests. ESA says data from the mission will improve current assessments and future projections of the global carbon cycle. It's hoped that observations from this new mission will also lead to better insights into the rates of habitat loss and as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment. The satellite is fully configured for launch and will remain protected until liftoff. As part of the flight, VV26, Reflex Aerospace and Umbra are collaborating on providing synthetic Aperture Radar, or sar, solutions to Europe. As part of the agreement, Umbra will customize and build its SAR solutions for integration by Reflex into a dedicated satellite bus hosting the payload. Umbra says it will work with Reflex's team to design and customize a solution to meet mission requirements for the customer base. The companies plan to work together in Germany to ensure an independent and stable European focused supply chain. The move to prioritize national sovereignty in supply chain is a theme we're seeing more of in recent months. I wonder why Mission Space and Starcatcher are partnering to advance real time space weather monitoring and orbital power solutions. This collaboration combines Mission Space's space weather forecasting technologies with Starcatcher's orbital power grid, designed to enhance satellite performance by eliminating power constraints. Under this agreement, Mission Space will provide real time space weather data and predictive models to support the Starcatcher network, which in turn will deliver additional power to Mission Space's satellites under a newly signed power purchase agreement. Best of luck to the both of them. That concludes our intelligence briefing for today. N2K producer Liz Stokes has more on the stories that didn't make today's headlines.

[Liz Stokes]

Liz we have three additional links in today's show notes for you to read up on. The first two are on China. They're planning on launching the Shenzhou 20 mission tomorrow, and their lunar chief is accusing the US of interfering in joint space programs. And we've also included Boeing's first quarter financial results.

[Alice Carruth]

Thanks, Liz. Where else can we find those links?

[Liz Stokes]

You can always find links to further reading on all of the stories mentioned throughout the show on our website space.n2k.com.

[Alice Carruth]

Just click on the episode title Hey T Miners Crew. If you find this podcast useful, please do us a favor and share a five star rating and a short review in your favorite podcast app. It will help other space professionals like you find the show and join the T minus crew. Thank you. We really appreciate it. We'll be right back.

[Maria Varmazes]

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[Alice Carruth]

Foreign.

[Maria Varmazes]

Secure access is crucial for US public sector missions, ensuring that only authorized users can access certain systems, networks or data. Are your defenses ready? Cisco's security service Edge delivers comprehensive protection for your network and users. Experience the power of zero Trust and secure your workforce wherever they are. Elevate your security strengths Strategy by visiting Cisco.comgo.sse that's C I S C O.com Go SSE.

[Alice Carruth]

Welcome back. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt like the universe was smiling back at you? Well, it turns out it soon will be. A rare planetary alignment will be forming a cosmic smiley face in the sky in the early hours of April 25. Jupiter and Venus are acting as the eyes, while a crescent moon curves just right to give us a cheeky little grin. It's the kind of thing that makes you wonder if the cosmos has a sense of humor. Or maybe it's just trying to give us a boost to morale. It's the type of conjunction that only happens once every few decades, when the planets and the moon line up just right from our perspective on Earth, Venus is expected to be the higher of the two eyes, while Saturn will be the lower. These alignments are like cosmic Easter eggs, rare, delightful, and totally worth sharing on your socials if you catch a glimpse. So what does a smiley face mean? Scientifically, not much beyond some core orbital mechanics, but emotionally, it's a whole vibe. I hope I'm down with the kids using that correctly. In a world full of breaking news and busy schedules, the universe will be taking a second to say, hey, Smile. And maybe that's the reminder we all need. Look up, be present, and every now and then, let the sky surprise you. That's it for t miners for April 23, 2025, brought to you by M2K Cyberwire. For additional resources from today's report, check out our show [e-mail] we'd love to know really what you think of this podcast. You can email [e-mail] or submit the survey in the show notes. Your feedback ensures we deliver the information that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. N2K strategic workforce intelligence optimizes the value of your biggest investment your people. We make you smarter about your team while making your team smarter. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We're mixed by Elliot Peltzman and Trey Hester with original music by Elliot Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Iban. Peter Kilby is our publisher and I'm N2K senior producer Alice Carruth. Thanks for listening.

[Maria Varmazes]

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