Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), led by Elon Musk, has achieved a significant milestone in its mission to support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) national security efforts with the release of its Starshield satellite services. SpaceX has now secured its first major contract with the U.S. Space Force for Starshield services. This contract, valued at up to $70 million, encompasses end-to-end service delivery via the Starshield constellation, user terminals, ancillary equipment, network management, and related services. This achievement marks a significant step forward for SpaceX, positioning the company as a key player in the burgeoning field of satellite services for national security purposes. SpaceX is actively competing with 15 other companies for a share of $900 million in U.S. government work orders through 2028, as part of the U.S. Space Force's "Proliferated Low Earth Orbit" contracts program.
SpaceX's decision to create a dedicated satellite service for government use stems from the belief that the civilian-oriented Starlink network should remain distinct from military applications. Musk emphasized this distinction, stating, "Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat. Starshield will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force. This is the right order of things," he said on September 27.
The successful utilization of Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has highlighted the potential for such technology to support military efforts. However, SpaceX has consistently underscored that Starlink primarily serves to connect remote and underserved communities to reliable internet access and not designed for war purposes.
SpaceX's Starshield initiative, designed exclusively for government use, aims to bolster national security across three key areas: Earth Observation, Communications, and Hosted Payloads. In the realm of "Earth Observation," Starshield will facilitate the launch of satellites equipped with sensing payloads, allowing for the direct delivery of processed data to users. These payloads may include advanced cameras and data-collecting hardware installed on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, enhancing the government's capabilities in monitoring and surveillance. The "Communications" facet of Starshield will provide government users with assured global communications through Starshield user equipment. This secure and reliable communication network will cater specifically to the needs of government agencies. "Starlink already offers unparalleled end-to-end user data encryption. Starshield uses additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting the most demanding government requirements," says the company.
Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 27, 2023
Starshield will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force.
This is the right order of things.
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Featured Images Source: SpaceX
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
