SpaceX’s Starshield division has a secret deal with the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since 2021. They are working on making a network of “hundreds” of spy satellites for the agency. This information comes from Reuters, who got it from unnamed sources who know about the program.
In February, The Wall Street Journal reported a secret $1.8 billion contract with SpaceX and a government agency, which was not named at the time. Now Reuters says it’s the US National Reconnaissance Office. They’re working on a network of “hundreds of satellites” that can take pictures of Earth and operate closely together in low orbits.
The report doesn’t say when the network will be ready or if other companies are involved. It mentions a US space database showing satellites launched by SpaceX that weren’t publicly acknowledged. Sources confirm these are prototypes for Starshield.
SpaceX created Starshield for the government, and Elon Musk said it will be owned by the US government and managed by the DoD Space Force. Last year, Starshield got a contract from the US Space Force to provide satellite communications for the military using Starlink.
Reuters says if the NRO contract goes well, it will help the US government and military find potential targets worldwide faster.
While an NRO spokesperson didn’t talk about SpaceX’s role, they confirmed they’re working on building a strong space-based intelligence system.
SpaceX created Starshield for the government, and Elon Musk said it will be owned by the US government and managed by the DoD Space Force. Last year, Starshield got a contract from the US Space Force to provide satellite communications for the military using Starlink.
Reuters says if the NRO contract goes well, it will help the US government and military find potential targets worldwide faster.
While an NRO spokesperson didn’t talk about SpaceX’s role, they confirmed they’re working on building a strong space-based intelligence system.
