Ball Corp., Loft Federal, Microsoft to collaborate on SDA’s NExT program

Ball Aerospace (BALL), Loft Federal and Microsoft (MSFT) announced that they are working together on the Space Development Agency’s experimental testbed program, called NExT, that will carry 10 satellites with experimental payloads into orbit. SDA announced the contract award on Oct. 10, 2022. Ball Aerospace is the prime contractor, leading payload and spacecraft integration and test. Ball Aerospace selected Loft Federal to perform spacecraft integration and testing, procure commercial launch services and oversee the launch campaign, and operate the constellation on orbit. Microsoft will provide Azure Government cloud and ground station infrastructure with secure satellite operations post launch as well as productivity solutions to drive mission critical communications.