Starshield is a SpaceX program consisting of purpose-built low-Earth orbit satellites designed to provide new "disruptive" military space capabilities to U.S. and allied governments.[1][2][3][4] Starshield was adapted from the global communications network Starlink but brings additional capabilities such as target tracking, optical and radio reconnaissance, early missile warning, and potential future lethal payloads such as missile interceptors.[5][6][7][8] Primary customers include the Space Development Agency, National Reconnaissance Office and the United States Space Force.[5][9][10]
While SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell has indicated there is little information she is allowed to disclose about Starshield, she has noted "very good collaboration" between the intelligence community and SpaceX on the program.[1] The Starshield website says it has an initial focus on three areas; Earth observation, communications and hosted payloads.[11] In addition, Shotwell told the Air Force that SpaceX is not opposed to including space-based weapons "for the defense of [the United States]".[12] Key leaders in the Trump Administration have called for these capabilities, reminiscent of the Strategic Defense Initiative.[13][14][8][6][7] The Wall Street Journal reported that Starshield's online job postings required people with top-secret clearances, as well as experience working with the Defense Department and intelligence community — such as representing Starshield to Pentagon combatant commands.[1]
The program is led by former four-star general Terrence O'Shaughnessy who previously ran U.S. Northern Command and focused on issues in homeland missile defense. According to O'Shaughnessy, the Starshield constellation will be have a "couple hundreds" satellites, compared to Starlink's thousands.[1]
The first satellites were designed for the Space Development Agency and outfitted with advanced thermal imaging cameras meant to provide target-grade tracking of ballistic and hypersonic missiles.[15] In 2021, Starshield had entered a $1.8 billion classified contract with the U.S. government, revealed in 2023,[1] to construct hundreds of spy satellites for continuous real time monitoring of targets around the globe.[9]
- ^ a b c d e FitzGerald, Micah Maidenberg and Drew. "Musk's SpaceX Forges Tighter Links With U.S. Spy and Military Agencies". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (2023-01-19). "With Starshield, SpaceX readies for battle". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ "SpaceX - Starshield". www.spacex.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ Sheetz, Michael (2022-12-05). "SpaceX unveils 'Starshield,' a military variation of Starlink satellites". CNBC. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ a b Erwin, Sandra (5 October 2020). "L3Harris, SpaceX win Space Development Agency contracts to build missile-warning satellites". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ a b Erwin, Sandra (21 April 2019). "Space Development Agency a huge win for Griffin in his war against the status quo". Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ a b Freedberg, Sydney (20 August 2018). "Space-Based Missile Defense Can Be Done: DoD R&D. Chief Griffin". Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Hypersonic Missile Defense: Issues for Congress". Congressional Research Service. 22 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say". Reuters. 2024-03-16.
- ^ Porter, Jon (2023-09-28). "SpaceX inks first Space Force deal for government-focused Starshield satellite network". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ "SpaceX.com/Starshield". SpaceX. 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (21 September 2018). "SpaceX Exec Says Company Would Launch A Weapon Into Space In 'Defense Of This Country'". Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Popkin, Gabriel (22 January 2019). "Decades after Reagan's 'Star Wars,' Trump calls for missile defenses that would blast warheads from the sky". Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Pompeo, Mike (18 January 2022). "Nuclear Weapons, China, and a Strategic Defense Initiative for this Century". Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (5 October 2020). "L3Harris, SpaceX win Space Development Agency contracts to build missile-warning satellites". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
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