Elon Musk’s SpaceX has landed a $149 million contract to build missile-tracking satellites for the Pentagon.
SpaceX would build four satellites in its assembly plant in Redmond, Washington, the US Space Development Agency (SDA) said on Monday, per Reuters. The plant is where SpaceX builds satellites for Starlink, a constellation of satellites designed to beam the internet around the world.
SDA director Derek Tournear told Space News the satellites in SpaceX’s bid were a new design, but based on the existing bus from Starlink broadband models. It’s obtaining the infrared sensor from an unnamed supplier.
L3 Harris won a similar contract for about $193.6 million. The SDA hopes to launch a combined eight satellites from both companies by the end of 2022, and plans
This is SpaceX’s first Defense Department satellite deal, and reflects the company’s expansion beyond its initial business of making rockets for orbital missions. On top of making Starlink satellites, it’s expanding its rocketry with plans for Starship to handle space tourism and interplanetary journeys. SpaceX might not be absolutely integral to the US government’s plans, but it’s clearly more important than ever.
