by c420 on 4/17/25, 1:05 PM with 1 comments
by bell-cot on 4/17/25, 1:32 PM
> SpaceX is pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer," a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the U.S., according to two sources familiar with SpaceX's goals.
> SpaceX has estimated the preliminary engineering and design work for the custody layer of satellites would cost between $6 billion and $10 billion, two of the sources said. In the last five years, SpaceX has launched hundreds of operational spy satellites and more recently several prototypes, which could be retrofitted to be used for the project, the sources said.
Sounds like SpaceX (with a couple partners) is only bidding to build a constellation of Early Warning & Tracking satellites. Obviously pretty similar to SpaceX's Starlink constellation. And there are zero other companies in the world with anywhere-near-comparable cred for quickly building, deploying, and operating a major global satellite constellation.