On October 12, 2026, satellite manufacturer York Space Systems disclosed technical details regarding two previously awarded U.S. Space Force task orders supporting the service’s Space Data Network (SDN).
Designated as Delivery Order 2 and Delivery Order 3, the awards focus on multi-vendor data interoperability and interface definitions for on-orbit demonstrations. York did not disclose contract values or program schedules.
Task Order Scopes and Interface Specifications
The two task orders address interoperability between commercial satellite buses and defense communications infrastructure:
- Delivery Order 2 (DO2): Directs York to support a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration with the SDN-Backbone (SDN-B) constellation. The effort evaluates technical approaches for interconnecting spacecraft and ground elements across multiple concurrent data-exchange pathways.
- Delivery Order 3 (DO3): Funds Phase A of the Space Exchange Point on-orbit demonstration. York will define standardized bus-to-payload interfaces and engineer comprehensive payload integration procedures to support future flight hardware.
Program Context and Space Data Network Architecture
The task orders integrate into the Space Force’s overarching Space Data Network framework, designed to establish an optically interconnected data transport layer for the Department of Defense. York’s interoperability work aligns with broader SDN architectural developments, following the Space Force’s selection of SpaceX to build the foundational Space Data Network Backbone on its Starshield platform.
The awards build upon York’s background in military and civil relay networking, following the company’s work on the Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) and BARD mission, which demonstrated dynamic multi-network routing across government and commercial satellite systems.
Roadmap for On-Orbit Demonstrations
Phase A execution under Delivery Order 3 establishes the interface baseline required before the Space Force commits to potential subsequent on-orbit prototyping phases. The joint evaluations will establish open communication protocols between York spacecraft and diverse defense ground stations, verifying reliable routing across military mesh network topologies.
