What Happened
Falcon 9 Launch Adds 21 Satellites To Constellation
The Pentagon’s first operational low Earth orbit data network has expanded with the launch of 21 more satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket, bringing the constellation to half its planned size. The launch, which was the third batch of Tranche 1 Transport Layer spacecraft, was a significant milestone for the program, which had been stalled for nine months due to hardware and software issues. The Space Development Agency’s director, Gurpartap Sandhoo, said that the launch marked a threshold worth noting, with three planes deployed and the ability to begin discussing actual operational capability. The program was first reported by Space Daily.