SpaceX Constructs Spy Satellite Network For US Intelligence Agency
SpaceX, is constructing hundreds of spy satellites network, under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency. The network is being built by SpaceX’s Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites.
The initiative enhances national security, allowing swift global target detection. The project deepens ties between Elon Musk’s firm and the Pentagon. Despite controversies, the contract also highlights the intelligence community’s trust in SpaceX.
The NRO oversees this project, involving a vast constellation of Earth-imaging satellites.
The program’s timeline and other participating firms remain undisclosed. Requests for comment from SpaceX and the Pentagon were unreturned. NRO confirms collaboration but refrains from discussing SpaceX’s network.
if successful, the program would notably enhance the U.S. government and military’s capacity to promptly identify potential targets worldwide.
They note that the contract signifies increasing confidence from the intelligence community in a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and stirred controversy regarding the deployment of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine conflict.
In February, The Wall Street Journal reported the existence of a classified $1.8 billion Starshield contract with an undisclosed intelligence agency, although the specifics of the program were not disclosed.
Reuters reports reveal SpaceX’s contract for a robust spy system. The NRO, collaborating with Musk’s company, remains undisclosed about the timeline for the satellite network’s launch and other participating companies. Despite repeated requests for comment, SpaceX and the Pentagon redirect inquiries to the NRO. While the NRO acknowledges its satellite system’s development and partnerships, it refrains from commenting on the extent of SpaceX’s involvement.
“The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen,” a spokesperson said.
these satellites possess ground-tracking capabilities, providing crucial data to U.S. intelligence and military authorities, they added
This capability theoretically allows the U.S. government to continuously monitor ground activities worldwide, facilitating intelligence and military endeavours.
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About a dozen prototypes have been launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets since 2020, as per three sources.
While government databases show several SpaceX missions deploying undisclosed satellites, sources confirm these as prototypes for the Starshield network.
All sources opted for anonymity due to lacking authorization to discuss the government program.
The Pentagon, already a significant SpaceX client, utilizes Falcon 9 rockets for launching military payloads. The initial Starshield prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate contract worth approximately $200 million, positioning SpaceX for a subsequent $1.8 billion contract, as revealed by one source.
The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink. SpaceX’s expanding commercial broadband network, consists of approximately 5,500 satellites providing global internet access. The classified Starshield constellation is a prized asset for the U.S. government, offering unparalleled, continuous, and rapid Earth surveillance.
“No one can hide,” one of the sources said of the system’s potential capability, when describing the network’s reach.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of social media firm X, has spurred space innovation but sparked Biden administration frustration due to his control of Starlink in Ukraine.
Kyiv’s military relies on it for secure communications in the conflict with Russia, creating tension with the U.S. government. Reuters’ reports have exposed issues in Musk’s manufacturing, including at SpaceX, affecting consumers and workers.
Starshield reflects heightened U.S. competition for space dominance, diverging from bulky, costly spacecraft in favor of a vast, low-orbit network for swift and continuous Earth surveillance.
China plans to develop its satellite constellations, while the Pentagon warns of space weapon threats from Russia, capable of disrupting satellite networks.
Starshield aims for resilience against sophisticated space adversaries, expanding the U.S. government’s remote-sensing capabilities. It comprises large imaging satellites and relay satellites utilizing inter-satellite lasers for data transmission, according to sources.
The NRO, involving U.S. Space Force and CIA personnel, supplies classified satellite imagery to the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. Sensor technology for the spy satellites will be provided by another company, sources said.
Reuters
