SpaceX’s Starshield unit has had a labeled contract with the US Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace (NRO) since 2021 to construct a community of “a whole lot” of spy satellites for the company, Reuters reviews right this moment, citing unnamed sources “acquainted with this system.” A Wall Avenue Journal report in February listed a labeled $1.8 billion SpaceX contract with a then-unnamed authorities company. Now Reuters has hooked up a reputation, and that it’s to construct a community of “a whole lot of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that may function as a swarm in low orbits.” The report didn’t say when the community shall be operational or what different firms are concerned. It does point out {that a} US database of house objects lists satellites deployed by SpaceX that the corporate and authorities haven’t acknowledged and cites sources confirming these objects as Starshield prototypes.A screenshot from SpaceX’s Starshield web site. Screenshot: Wes Davis / The VergeAccording to Reuters, if the NRO contract is successful, it might “considerably advance the flexibility of the U.S. authorities and army to rapidly spot potential targets nearly wherever on the globe.Whereas an NRO spokesperson reportedly declined to touch upon Reuters findings about SpaceX’s involvement, it confirmed to the outlet that it’s working to develop “probably the most succesful, various, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen.”