SpaceX has won its first contract with america Space Force for its recent Starshield satellite constellation.
The one-year contract is price $70 million and was confirmed by a Space Force spokesperson in a statement given to CNBC. SpaceX has not yet commented on the contract.
Though little is thought about Starshield, SpaceX has revealed some key features of the endeavor. As an example, this project will use the identical style of broadband technology present in the corporate’s Starlink satellite constellation, yet might be geared towards government uses, particularly by the U.S. military and its associated agencies. SpaceX also has an official website for the project.
“Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts,” the location states.
Related: SpaceX reveals ‘Starshield’ satellite project for national security use
In keeping with the identical site, the project may have three essential uses: Earth remark, communications and hosting “essentially the most demanding customer payload missions.” That third use leaves open the potential of a wide selection of instruments and mission types. “Starshield satellites are able to integrating a wide selection of payloads, offering unique versatility to users,” SpaceX adds.
Starlink, SpaceX’s consumer broadband communications satellite network, is used primarily for high-speed web access in distant areas, at sea or at sites without existing web infrastructure. Nevertheless, Starlink has been used widely by the Ukrainian government and military throughout Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Air Force has also tested Starlink for military purposes as early as 2020. That is when the Air Force conducted a “massive live fire” exercise that saw the satellites provide communication links between military assets spread throughout the U.S. to assist shoot down a drone and a cruise missile. “SpaceX has been an excellent industry partner for us,” then-U.S. Air Force acquisition chief William Roper told reporters on the time. “They’re very excited and we’re excited to learn more about their satellites through the demonstration.”
Starshield will offer higher levels of cybersecurity than typical Starlink satellites, in line with SpaceX’s Starshield page, featuring “additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting essentially the most demanding government requirements.”
The satellites will give you the chance to speak with existing Starlink satellites through a laser communications systems already aboard SpaceX’s massive broadband constellation, potentially boosting the range and capabilities of Starshield as the corporate and the Pentagon develop the brand new military-focused constellation.
SpaceX has already launched greater than 5,000 Starlink satellites up to now, in line with astronomer Jonathan McDowell, and over 4,000 remain operational. The corporate has applied to launch nearly 30,000 additional satellites on top of those.