Space Development Agency slows satellite launches to focus on on-orbit performance

WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency is slowing the pace of launches for the Pentagon's low Earth orbit satellite constellation, stepping back from an earlier plan for frequent deployments as it works through technical issues with spacecraft already in orbit.

Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo, the agency's acting director, said the next launch of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture's Tranche 1 satellites will not occur until at least May or June, marking a gap of roughly seven months since the last launch in mid-October. The pause is intentional, he said, as the program shifts from rapid deployment to validating performance on orbit.

"We plan to start launching again towards the May, June timeframe," Sandhoo said March 23 at the Satellite 2026 conference.