US Contracted SpaceX to Build Satellite Spy Network in 2021

A report from Reuters (Center bias) stated that a U.S. intelligence agency has contracted Elon Musk’s SpaceX to construct a satellite spy network.

Details: The report cited five sources familiar with the program. According to the report, SpaceX entered into a $1.8 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office in 2021 to help the Pentagon construct “vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.” The sources indicated the satellite network would “significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.” The report did not indicate when the satellite network would come online, but that it would grant the government one of its “most sought-after capabilities in space because it is designed to offer the most persistent, pervasive and rapid coverage of activities on Earth.”

For Context: In February, the Wall Street Journal (Center bias) reported that SpaceX entered into a $1.8 billion classified contract with the U.S. government, but did not disclose details.

How the Media Covered It: Reuters and the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) noted that the contract comes amid tensions between Musk and President Joe Biden. The Washington Examiner noted that SpaceX is “under review by Biden’s National Labor Relations Board over the firing of eight employees.” Reuters noted that the contract signals “growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration.”