Posted on 03/17/2024 3:11:31 AM PDT by Bratch
According to a recent Reuters report, Elon Musk signed a $1.8 billion contract in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to launch a system of orbiting surveillance satellites.
According to the report, “if successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.”
Remind me again exactly when Elon Musk bought the Twitter platform.
WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) – SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s space company and national security agencies.
The network is being built by SpaceX’s Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said.
The plans show the extent of SpaceX’s involvement in U.S. intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.
If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.
The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said.
The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a $1.8 billion classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing the purposes of the program.
Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk’s company is working with is the NRO.
Reuters was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts. (more)
Knowing that for a period of about ten years beginning in 2012, USG/DHS essentially operated inside the platform of Twitter for the purposes of controlling public opinion, I find it very challenging to believe the relationships with DHS, FBI, HHS and USIC – along with the Pentagon and State Dept, just ended after Musk purchased the platform.
One could make a compelling argument the purchase of Twitter held an ancillary benefit and protected the USIC from revelations that would not be controlled by any other process. Long before the “Twitter Files” were released under tight controls, the structure of Jack’s Magic Coffee shop was increasingly visible.
Beyond the Twitter Files, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how much control the government held over the platform. A $1.8 billion USG contract buys a lot of symbiosis and influence.
The world’s richest man closed his blockbuster purchase of the social media service,
thrusting Twitter into a new era.
So, be able to spot balloons
Here is the deal... He already has it in place with Starlink. and he has already handed them the keys. The DoD squeezed him to do this over a year ago, now all the agencies are sharing access.
They are already doing this...
SpaceX has been launching payloads for NRO for years. Starlink and NRO are not the same. Starlink could be used for government, sure, but the NRO payloads have been shrouded in secret, and it’s really no surprise that they’re military satellites.
“SpaceX has been launching payloads for NRO for years. Starlink and NRO are not the same.”
That is like saying civilian cell phones are different than agency cell phones and cannot be monitored by agencies. All they need is the access to repurpose these birds. Same birds.
I’m using it right now and I’ll tell you what, there are some obvious “adjustments” to my internet experience. In fact I am now going to have to switch internet access to terrestrial because they just slowed my speed down to dial up speed because I am discussing this topic here. I knew it would, happens every time I criticize Musk, Starlink, or the government agencies.
Every time just like clockwork...
Switched and back up to speed now. That last reply took over two minutes to post on Starlink because of the throttling.
Is anyone concerned this could be used on civilians, ie patriots, should civil war erupt?
Sometimes it won’t even let me post at all depending on keywords in my comment. It locks up and I have to disconnect for five minutes, reconnect and hit a couple other domains before coming back to the FR. Then it works fine until I use certain keywords again. It is an obvious attempt to discourage my behavior.
Been at this about ten months now... Been keeping a journal of my experience on another domain.
No. It’s already being done. This news will only serve to enhance that capability. What? Me worry?
Almost anywhere in the globe -- "ability of the U.S. government ... to quickly spot potential targets"
With the commies in office, where do you suppose it will be used?
What's most infuriating is crime and government corruption have reached "Fall of Rome" levels despite all the spying taking place. We gave up all our privacy for worse outcomes?
I wouldn't worry too much about the cold civil war going down. Demonrats are their own worst enemy and are slow nuking their own rat nests. Their self-inflicted casualties exceed that of a hot civil war. Time and God are not on their side.
Just an observation. Elon Musk provides launch services to the federal government. He does not build the satellites (Starlink exception here). He also signed contracts to launch GPS satellites, but that doesn’t mean he’s building a NAV constellation.
add some AI and a few AI controlled manufacturing facilities and you get SKYNET! in a few short years(if that) life on planet Earth will genuinely become very interesting.
Find a different provider.
SpaceX’s Starshield
https://www.spacex.com/starshield/
Earth Observation
Starshield launches satellites with sensing payloads and delivers processed data directly to the user.
Communications
Starshield provides assured global communications to government users with Starshield user equipment.
Hosted payloads
Starshield builds satellite buses to support the most demanding customer payload missions.
Security
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 requirement
Modular Design
Designed to meet diverse mission requirements, Starshield satellites are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users.
Interoperability
Starlink’s inter-satellite laser communications terminal, which is the only communications laser operating at scale in orbit today, can be integrated onto partner satellites to enable incorporation into the Starshield network
Rapid Development and Deployment
With the proven ability to iterate rapidly, SpaceX’s unique full-stack approach in developing end-to-end systems, from launch vehicles to user terminals, enables the deployment of capabilities at scale with unprecedented speed.
[ Not mentioned is the date on which it will become self-aware ... ]
add some AI and a few AI controlled manufacturing facilities and you get SKYNET! in a few short years(if that) life on planet Earth will genuinely become very interesting.
—
Not to worry, the Trisolarians will be arriving shortly there after.
“Find a different provider.”
I do have another option. But as a tech guy I am test driving and reviewing it purposely.
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