SpaceX Starshield

Starshield is a division of SpaceX's Starlink subsidiary creating purpose-built low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites designed to provide new military space capabilities to U.S. and allied governments. Starshield was adapted from the global communications network Starlink but brings additional capabilities such as target tracking, optical and radio reconnaissance, and early missile warning. Primary customers include the Space Development Agency (SDA), National Reconnaissance Office and the United States Space Force. As of 2025, at least 183 Starshield satellites have been launched, with the latest batch of 22 satellites being launched in April 2025 as part of NROL-145. The primary project SpaceX is reportedly vying for are contracts for the Golden Dome space weapons system. While SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell has indicated that 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. The U.S. Congressional Research Service reports that future satellites in Starshield's participating SDA program may wield interceptor missiles, hypersonic projectiles, or directed energy weapons, with the program's founder adding "since Reagan’s day, technology has advanced enough that putting both sensors and shooters in space is not only possible but relatively easy." According to SDA director Derek Tournear, later satellites will take on the “extremely difficult” task of maintaining contact with missiles in flight. The retired four-star general Terrence O'Shaughnessy, who previously ran U.S. Northern Command, is the vice president for SpaceX's Special Programs Group who is thought to be involved with Starshield. 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. For weapons manufacturing, eight senior Starshield leaders formed an additional company Castelion, to develop mass...