Awards support multi-vendor interoperability demonstration and Space Exchange Point development activities

York Space Systems, a U.S.-based national-security and commercial space company, shared additional details on two previously awarded task orders supporting the United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space Data Network (SDN) effort.

The awards support development and demonstration activities intended to advance multi-vendor interoperability and Space Exchange Point (SEP) integration planning.

“We are pleased to support the Space Force’s Space Data Network effort,” said Dirk Wallinger, chief executive officer of York. “These awards enable York to apply its spacecraft-platform, payload-integration, and ground-system experience to support the program’s development objectives.”

The Space Data Network is a Space Force effort intended to advance integrated, high-capacity, low-latency space-based data-transport capabilities using commercially derived technologies and practices.

Under the task orders, also known as Delivery Order 2 (DO2), York will support a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration with the SDN-Backbone (SDN-B) constellation. The effort will evaluate approaches for connecting spacecraft and ground elements through multiple data-exchange paths.

Under Delivery Order 3 (DO3), York will support Phase A of the Space Exchange Point on-orbit demonstration effort. Phase A will support the definition of spacecraft bus-to-payload interfaces and payload-integration planning associated with the SEP demonstration, including planning products to inform a potential subsequent on-orbit prototyping phase.

“These efforts are intended to help inform approaches for integrating payload capabilities through common interfaces,” said Melanie Preisser, executive vice president and general manager of York. “Common interfaces and adaptable spacecraft platforms can help facilitate integration of payload capabilities from across industry. York has experience integrating payload capabilities onto its spacecraft platforms.”

York spacecraft support government and commercial missions. The delivery orders build on York’s participation in the SDN acquisition vehicle and support continued development of scalable, interoperable space-data-transport capabilities.