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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been awarded a $2 billion Pentagon contract to build a new line of satellites for the United States, as per a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. The work will support the Golden Dome missile defense system, a program launched during Donald Trump’s administration. The network will use small satellites in low Earth orbit to spot missile launches and aircraft in real time, giving commanders faster warning of incoming attacks.
Golden Dome is meant to create a space-based security shield. Instead of relying only on ground radars, the satellites will watch the planet from a few hundred miles up. They will use infrared cameras that detect the heat from rocket engines the moment a missile leaves the ground. U.S. officials say this will help track threats over long distances and allow interceptors more time to respond.
The Pentagon expects the system to operate with hundreds of satellites. They will fly in low Earth orbit, roughly 300 to 600 miles above the surface, passing over the same region every few minutes. This rapid movement allows them to update data often and send alerts to control rooms on the ground.
Engineers say this setup will reduce blind spots and provide constant monitoring rather than waiting for a few large satellites to come back into range.
SpaceX was chosen because it already runs a massive satellite network. Its Starlink system has thousands of spacecraft in orbit, and the company launches new ones on a regular basis. SpaceX builds satellites at a fast rate, cuts launch costs with reusable rockets, and has a history of classified missions for U.S. intelligence agencies. Lockheed Martin and other defense giants competed for the contract, but SpaceX offered a cheaper and faster plan.
Musk proposed a subscription-style model. Instead of owning the hardware, the government will pay for access to the network and upgrades over time. Supporters say this approach keeps technology current and reduces repair and storage costs. Critics fear it could lock national defense systems to a private company.
The satellites will detect missile launches using heat signatures. When a rocket fires, its engines burn hot and bright in infrared light. Specialized sensors capture that signal, and onboard computers calculate the missile’s path. By comparing speed, angle, and altitude, the software can predict where the missile is heading. The data then moves to military command centers, where operators can order interceptors or raise alerts.
Low Earth orbit helps because it provides sharp images and less distortion. The shorter distance also means faster data transfer. The same technology can track aircraft and possibly drones. Although Golden Dome is a military program, its sensors could also support emergency response efforts, like spotting wildfires or volcanic activity.
The deal raises questions about the growing militarization of space. Defense officials argue that orbital surveillance is needed as Russia, China, and North Korea test new weapons. Others warn that more satellites may worsen the risk of collisions and space debris.
More launches are expected from Cape Canaveral in the next few years as the network expands. Supporters hope the project will deter attacks by giving the United States clearer warning of threats. Opponents worry about a new era of competition in orbit.
For now, the contract marks another step in SpaceX’s influence over U.S. space operations. It puts the company at the center of a major national defense effort, turning satellite surveillance into a key part of future security planning.
