CLASSIFIED
PRAETORIAN SDA_508
US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer) · York Space Systems / US Space Development Agency
Right now
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PRAETORIAN SDA-508, 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 several dozen satellites split across competing manufacturers by design, so that no single company's production problems or launch failure can stall the entire Transport Layer buildout.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 583–596 mi (938–959 km)
- Inclination
- 81.5°
- One orbit
- 103.9 minutes13.9 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 100066
- Int’l designator
- 2026-163H
- Launched
- 2026
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More classified
- PRAETORIAN SDA_509US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_510US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_511US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_512US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_513US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)
- PRAETORIAN SDA_514US Military Mesh Communications (PWSA Transport Layer)