12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
According to allegations, SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, has entered into a 1.8 billion dollar contract with the US intelligence agency, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), to develop a spy satellite network.
According to a report by Reuters citing unnamed sources, the National Reconnaissance Office agreed to a contract with SpaceX in 2021 to develop hundreds of spy satellites.
Sources stated that the satellites could operate in swarms in low Earth orbit, and would also allow the US to track targets on the ground and share data with US intelligence and military officials.
According to the report, about a dozen satellite prototypes have been launched since 2020.
The NRO confirmed to Reuters that the office is developing a satellite system in partnership with other government agencies, companies, research institutions, and other countries, but did not confirm SpaceX's involvement.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that SpaceX had agreed to sign a contract with a US intelligence agency in 2021, but that the details of the agreement were not yet known.
Company documents suggested that SpaceX is developing a satellite program called Starshield to complement national security efforts. The SpaceX website states that Starshield is being developed for 'government use,' focusing on 'Earth observation' and 'global communications.'
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said last year that there is 'very good cooperation' between the company and the 'intelligence community.' According to Reuters, the Department of Defense has previously used SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space.
News Source: 12punto
