Terran Orbital Delivers First Tranche 0 Satellite Bus to Lockheed Martin

Satellite solutions provider Terran Orbital has delivered the first of 10 satellite buses to Lockheed Martin in support of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 0 Transport Layer. The satellite bus is the main part that holds the spacecraft’s scientific equipment and necessary components.

Erik Daehler, the lead official of Lockheed’s Space Protected Communications Mission Area component, said the delivery of the first bus is a key step in demonstrating innovative communications architecture. According to the official, Tranche 0 satellites will give warfighters around the world resilient connectivity to other space assets.

Tranche 0 is the foundation layer for the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Operations capabilities. Once in orbit, tranche 0 will link nodes together to create seamless connectivity between all domains, Terran Orbital said.

The Tranche 0 satellite constellation is expected to have a limited network capability, but there will be enhancements in the future. The next Transport Layer update, called Tranche 1,  is expected to significantly increase data delivery capability across a larger network of space vehicles.

Once complete, Tranche 1 will serve as the backbone for the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept.

Terran Orbital also received a contract from Lockheed to build 42 satellites for Tranche 1.

Terran Orbital creates satellites and satellite components and offers mission services and data products to clients. It is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and has offices in Irvine, California, and Turin, Italy.