Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory

Looking west at the Space Dynamics Laboratory auditorium building in the morning
Abbreviation	SDL
Predecessor	Electro-Dynamics Laboratories (EDL), Upper Air Research Laboratory (UARL)
Founded	1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	North Logan, Utah, United States
President	Jed J Hancock[1]
Parent organization	Utah State University
Affiliations	UARC for the Missile Defense Agency
Revenue (FY2019)	About US$175 million [2]
Staff (FY2019)	900+ [2]
Website	www.sdl.usu.edu

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is a nonprofit government contractor owned by Utah State University. SDL is the sole University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for the United States Missile Defense Agency; and, is one of 15 UARCs in the nation for the United States Department of Defense. Together with Utah State University, SDL has completed over 420 successful space missions and deployed over 500 independent hardware and software systems into space.^[3]

SDL was formed in 1982 from the merger of Utah State University's Electro Dynamics Laboratories (founded in 1959) and the University of Utah's Upper Air Research Laboratory (founded in 1948).^[4] The corporation has been responsible for the design, fabrication, and operation of sensors on over 430 payloads ranging from aircraft and rocket-borne experiments to space shuttle experiments and satellite-based sensor systems. SDL provides sensor systems and supporting technologies to address challenges for the United States government. SDL designs and develops electro-optical sensors, builds small satellites, provides calibration services, and creates real-time data reconnaissance systems.^[2]

SDL employs over 900 engineers, students, and professional staff at facilities in Logan, Utah; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Bedford, Massachusetts; Dayton, Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Washington, D.C.