CLASSIFIED
PRAETORIAN SDA_504
US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer) · York Space Systems / US Space Development Agency
Right now
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PRAETORIAN SDA-504, one of York Space Systems' Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for the US Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture — the Pentagon's answer to a fundamental problem: how do you build military space infrastructure that isn't an easy, high-value target? Rather than a handful of expensive satellites, the SDA is deploying over 150 nearly identical, mass-produced Transport Layer spacecraft in low Earth orbit, connected via optical laser inter-satellite links into a resilient global mesh network. This satellite is one of roughly 150 nearly identical Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites, a scale that alone represents one of the largest single orders for military spacecraft in US history.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 584–596 mi (939–959 km)
- Inclination
- 81.5°
- One orbit
- 103.9 minutes13.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 100062
- Int’l designator
- 2026-163D
- Launched
- 2026
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- PRAETORIAN SDA_505US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_506US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_507US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_508US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_509US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_510US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)