Budget Impasse and Operational Challenges Facing Space Development Agency

A budget impasse is reportedly imperiling one in ten of the Space Force programs. During a conference, Space Development Agency Director G.P. Sandhoo acknowledged the agency missed its self-imposed deadline for an orbital mesh network, stating they were behind schedule. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Doug Schiess noted that the command needs more capabilities to target space adversaries, focusing on baseline functions like space domain awareness and satellite communications for cislunar operations.

The issues affect the operational capacity of the agency, which is responsible for various space programs. The agency is also planning to issue its first operational space domain awareness contracts to commercial firms. Separately, the Ground Moving Target Indicator program is underway with Northrop Grumman.