Elon Musk's Space X building spy satellites for US govt

Space company Space X, owned by Elon Musk, is reportedly building hundreds of spy satellites for the United States government under a classified agreement.

According to a report by Reuters, the contract worth $1.8 billion was signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office.

Under the agreement, SpaceX's Starshield business unit is to make hundreds of spy satellites with "Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits" and would provide the US with most pervasive coverage of activities around the globe and enhance its ability to quickly targets any spot.

Since 2020, in addition to satellites sent via Falcon, more than a dozen Starshield prototypes have also been sent into space.

Furthermore, the report suggests that Space X has also signed contacts with the pentagon to use its Falcon 9 rockets to equip military payloads into space.

As the US and its rivals compete in a race to mark their dominance in space, the Starshied network will provide the US an edge by bringing in information from across the globe faster.

China is also reportedly developing its own satellite constellations.

Space X's growing Starlink network which provides internet around the world, reportedly has 5,500 satellites under its belt.