SpaceX secretly building spy satellite network for US intelligence

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
16 Mar 2024 22:40

The network, managed by SpaceX's Starshield business unit, operates under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), responsible for managing spy satellites.

SpaceX's mega rocket Starship cuts through clouds and haze on it's third test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SpaceX, the space exploration company led by Elon Musk, is reportedly constructing a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a US intelligence agency, Reuters reports.

The network, managed by SpaceX's Starshield business unit, operates under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), responsible for managing spy satellites.

According to Reuters, this initiative showcases SpaceX's significant involvement in US intelligence and military projects, further highlighting the Pentagon's investment in low-Earth orbit satellite systems to bolster ground forces' support.

If successful, this program is expected to enhance the US government and military's capacity to rapidly identify potential targets across the globe.

The contract signals increased confidence from the intelligence community in a company whose owner has previously clashed with the Biden administration.

Although the existence of a $1.8 billion classified contract with SpaceX's Starshield was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, Reuters' reporting now reveals that the contract is for a powerful new spy system comprising hundreds of satellites with Earth-imaging capabilities, with the NRO as the collaborating intelligence agency.

SpaceX's involvement in the program is shrouded in secrecy, with no confirmation on the network's launch timeline or details on other participating companies.

In response to Reuters' findings, the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop sophisticated satellite systems but declined to comment specifically on SpaceX's involvement. The satellites are designed to track ground targets and relay data to US intelligence and military officials, significantly enhancing intelligence and military operations capabilities.

Although SpaceX's involvement in national security projects is not new, the Starshield network represents a significant expansion. It aims to provide persistent, pervasive, and rapid coverage of Earth's activities, making hiding virtually impossible.

This development comes amid escalating competition between the US and its rivals in asserting dominance in space. Starshield seeks to address the evolving threats in space and expand the US government's remote-sensing capabilities.

The NRO, comprising personnel from the US Space Force and CIA, plays a crucial role in providing classified satellite imagery to the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies. Sensors for the spy satellites are provided by another undisclosed company.