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

Date Released: April 23, 2025

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.

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])

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.

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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