Elon Musk’s SpaceX is working on a classified project for the US government, according to a new Reuters story.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the company that operates the internet satellite network Starlink inked a $1.8 billion classified deal with an unknown government entity in 2021.
Musk confirmed in 2023 that SpaceX is developing “Starshield”. The initiative “leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts,” according to SpaceX’s website. “While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use.”
SpaceX maintains that the three primary areas of focus are Earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.
“Starlink must be a civilian network, not a participant in combat. Starshield will be owned by the US government and operated by the DoD Space Force,” Musk tweeted on X (Twitter), adding, “Starlink must be a civilian network, not a participant in combat.”
According to Reuters, SpaceX has a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is the government organization in charge of overseeing spy satellites. Musk’s company is building a network of hundreds of satellites that can function as a swarm in low-Earth orbit and take pictures of the planet below, according to people who spoke with the news agency.
“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 statement obtained by Reuters stated.
It is uncertain what the satellite network’s precise capabilities are because neither SpaceX nor the NRO will comment on the project’s specifics. But “no one can hide” from the system’s reach, a source told Reuters.
