On December 2nd, 2022, SpaceX quietly updated their website, revealing their new Starshield program, which “leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts”.

Starlink

The design of the Starshield satellite bus seems heavily influenced by the Starlink constellation, and will be using starlink for secure communications. Starlink is an internal program ran by SpaceX, with a goal of creating worldwide internet connectivity with use of a constellation of orbital satellites launching on the Falcon 9 and Starship rockets. Starlink currently has 3,263 operational satellites in orbit, making it by far the most expensive constellation in earth orbit to date. Starlinks’s bar is high, with an aspirational goal of 42,000 satellites eventually working collectively to connect Earth.

Starshield

Starshield is designed to allow access to three key principles: Earth observation, communications, and integration and modulability of payloads. For earth observation, SpaceX has designed the Starshield satellite to be compatible with remote sensing equipment able to greatly expand the horizon of earth observation and sensing. SpaceX has also designed the Starshield satellite to work in tandem with the Starlink program, allowing for global communications access through Starshield. Lastly, Starshield has been designed to be able to host a wide variety of payloads and instruments, allowing for variability in design, allowing for the satellite to fulfill a wide range of needs in space. The design also allows for rapid designing and launching by use of the Starlink production line, which will allow for quick response times from construction to launch. 

Starshield Design

Starshield is the newest extension of SpaceX’s Starlink program, expanding the constellations range into the defense industry. The structure of the base satellite has many key elements that are taken from the Starlink design, with the solar panels, laser link communications, and structure all resembling that of the base Starlink satellite. The two solar panels resemble that of Starlinks, with foldable panels on top of the solar array armature. SpaceX also confirmed that Starshield will host laser link communication arrays, which will allow cross-communication between Starshield and Starlink satellites, reducing the need for ground station connection for satellites. The Starshield satellites are currently reserved for government entities and agency use, and has no mentioned use for commercial development of the satellites, either public or private.

Starshield In Orbit

This story becomes more intriguing with one of the photos SpaceX included on the webpage, which pictures one of these satellites in orbit around earth. While speculative, it is believed that this was launched on June 19th, 2022 on the Globstar FM15 mission on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. The launch was shrouded in secrecy, and after primary mission success, where 4 separate  objects with the designations of “USA-X” began to be tracked. It is believed that the launch carrying the Globestar FM15 satellite also carried 4 of these Starshield satellites, either as prototypes or early operational test vehicles. It is unknown how many total Starshield satellites are currently in orbit, or if there are any plans to launch more in the near future.