SpaceX's Starshield program has been building a constellation of spy satellites under a classified contract with the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since 2021, Reuters reported, citing five people familiar with the program.
The spy satellite network will consist of hundreds of low-Earth orbiting satellites with Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a sat-swarm. SpaceX's contract with the NRO, signed in 2021, totals $1.8 billion.
According to Reuters, if Starshield is successful, it would "significantly advance the ability of the US government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe."
The contract signals a strengthening relationship between Musk and national security agencies despite radical progressives in the White House who have weaponized federal agencies against SpaceX and other Musk-owned companies.
Reuters noted it "was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts."
SpaceX describes Starshield as for "government use" only, while "Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use." It also explains that Starshield is a "secured satellite network for government entities" that "supports national security efforts."
Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 27, 2023
Starshield will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force.
This is the right order of things.
Last fall, SpaceX received a contract for the Starshield network from the US Space Force.
The planned Starshield network is entirely separate from Starlink, which has an expanding commercial broadband constellation of 5,500 satellites in low earth orbit that provides internet to consumers, companies, and government agencies worldwide.
Biden officials must be absolutely furious about Musk's expanding relationship with the Pentagon to strengthen the nation's defenses.
Musk is uncancellable - no matter how many federal agencies the Biden administration directs at the billionaire.
