SpaceX is reportedly engaged in a classified project for the US government, known as Starshield

According to a recent story by Reuters, SpaceX, the space business owned by Elon Musk, is now engaged in a secret project for the United States Government.

In 2021, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company, which operates the internet-providing satellite network Starlink, had entered into a confidential deal for $1.8 billion with an unidentified government entity.

In 2023, Musk revealed that SpaceX was actively engaged in the development of “Starshield.”. SpaceX states on its website that the initiative utilizes SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capacity to bolster national security endeavors. Starlink is primarily intended for consumer and commercial applications, while Starshield is specifically tailored for government use.

SpaceX has identified the three main areas of interest as being earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

“Starlink should function as a non-military network rather than a combat participant.” Musk said on Twitter that the US government would own Starshield and that it would be under the supervision of the DoD Space Force. He also emphasized that Starlink should be a civilian network rather than a combat network.

According to Reuters, SpaceX has entered into a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is the federal organization in charge of overseeing the management of spy satellites. As per sources interviewed by the news agency, Musk’s company is developing a network of several satellites that can function as a collective in low-Earth orbit, with the ability to capture images of the Earth’s surface.

According to a statement obtained by Reuters, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is now engaged in the development of a space-based information, surveillance, and reconnaissance system that is renowned for its exceptional capabilities, diversity, and resilience.

The precise functionalities of the satellite network remain uncertain, since both SpaceX and the NRO have refrained from providing details on the project’s features. Nevertheless, a reliable source informed Reuters that the system’s reach is insurmountable.