Musk’s SpaceX building spy satellite web for US agency

SPACEX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with an American intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s space firm and national security agencies.

The network is being built by SpaceX’s Starshield business unit under a US$1.8-billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office, an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said.

The plans show the extent of SpaceX’s involvement in US intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.

If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the US government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.

The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a US$1.8-billion classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing its purpose.

Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk’s company is working with is the NRO.

SpaceX, the world’s largest satellite operator, did not respond to requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and other details. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX.

In a statement, the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop a sophisticated satellite system and its partnerships with other government agencies, companies, research institutions and nations, but declined to comment on findings about the extent of SpaceX’s involvement in the effort.

“The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen.”

The satellites can track targets on the ground and share that data with US intelligence and military officials, the sources said. In principle, that would enable the United States government to quickly capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe.

Roughly a dozen prototypes have been launched since 2020, among other satellites on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, three sources said.

(Reuters)