The Space Development Agency (SDA) is reducing the number of satellites it is procuring for a communications network. SDA is now seeking 126 satellites rather than the original 144, with the 18 other satellites to be procured at a later date. SDA Director Derek Tournear said Sept. 27 that the agency found that the original plan to launch six stacks of 24 satellites each would not work due to launch vehicle constraints, and it will instead launch stacks of 21 satellites at a time. The other 18 satellites, known as partner payload program or P3 satellites, will be procured and launched separately.
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