Starshield

[Yazata]

Starlink has proven increasingly vital to the Ukrainian defense effort. For example, Ukraine operates their whole national air defense network over Starlink.

Well, the Space Force has sat up and taken notice.

So here's a brand new SpaceX division called Starshield. It's basically secure encrypted channels the new version 2 Starlinks (which will be launched by Starship): "Starshield provides assured global communications to government users with Starshield user equipment." It sounds to me like these will be off-the-shelf Starlink v.2's, with special ground terminals that perform the encryption/decryption.

There's more, "Starshield launches satellites with sensing payloads and delivers processed data directly to the user." I'm not sure whether Starshield proposes to build spy satellites (I doubt it) or just launch ones built by others and then provide secure communications with them through the Starlink network.

And "Starshield builds satellite buses to support the most demanding customer payload missions". This one does sound like new spacecraft hardware. It might be (I'm speculating now) the shells of Starlink v.2's with the solar panels, electrical supply and attitude control, into which customers place their sensor or other payloads. These buses might have a variety of thrusters to enable them to change orbits and whatever.

I'm speculating again, but I suspect this has Gwynne's fingerprints all over it. It's been her job to lead the commercialization of the crazy engineering that Elon thinks up. He's the science fiction sensibility, she's the practical level-headed one who has said in the past that it's her job to ensure that SpaceX has revenue flowing in. And what better way to do that than to enter the very profitable defense contractor market?

Besides, Elon's elimination of political bias at Twitter has made him public enemy #1 in Washington DC right now among those who benefit from political bias. While Gwynne on the other hand moves smoothly and easily among government officials and military officers.

Which will probably work in Starship's favor. I personally suspect that the FAA has gotten orders from the White House/Congress to hold up approval of the Starship orbital test flight as a fuck-you to Elon. But if not only NASA is dependent on Starship for Artemis' HLS, but the Pentagon is increasingly dependent on Starshield satellites launched by Starships, then SpaceX will have increasingly powerful allies in the halls of power with a vested interest in seeing Starship succeed.

https://www.spacex.com/starshield/index.html

[Yazata]

Spacenerds are noting that the SpaceX Globalstar launch last June also carried four unannounced rideshare payloads that were given designations assigned to US government satellites USA-328, USA-329, USA-330 and USA-331. These are widely believed by people like Jonathan McDowell to have been test flights of militarized Starlinks of some sort.

[Yazata]

SpaceX has revealed next to nothing about what they are up to with Starshield. But given that many of the current job openings at SpaceX are Starshield openings, it appears to be busy and growing.

What's more, it's often possible to piece together a picture of a project from job descriptions. (OSINT!)

Here are a few:

Senior Security Software Engineer (Starshield)

This job is "onsite" in Washington DC, which tells us that SpaceX has an unpublicized operation there.

"As a Sr. Security Software Engineer you will influence the security of software across our product lines. We are looking for people with a track record of shipping reliable software and who have a broad understanding of the security design of today’s Internet, including the cryptographic primitives involved. You see the big picture, prioritize accordingly, and are comfortable with working at different levels of abstraction. Ideally, you have notable skills in one or more of the following:

Software engineering
Applied cryptography
Network security
Operating system security
Secure/Authenticated boot
Incident response and adversary detection
Vulnerability research"

They prefer but don't require an active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI or DoE Q clearance.

https://twitter.com/i/jobs/1782937832484753408

Here's an extraordinarily interesting one:

Senior Intelligence Analyst

Also 'onsite' in Washington DC

"SpaceX is seeking a dynamic and driven individual with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team in a fast-paced, high tech environment. Our goal is to protect some of the world’s most advanced technologies including: rockets, Dragon capsules for human transport, inter-planetary transport vehicles, the world's largest satellite communications network, etc. As an industry leader, we are a target of adversaries, both foreign and domestic, focused on slowing us down and accessing our proprietary technology. The work we do will literally safeguard mankind becoming an interplanetary species.

You will be responsible for the research, analysis, production, and dissemination of information relevant to protecting the safety and security of personnel, brand, global assets, and operations at SpaceX. This role is also responsible for supporting certain investigations and research efforts, either stemming from intelligence conducted or through other escalation protocols, and actioning findings. You will use comprehensive understanding of various collection methods and platforms to explore new data sources, build effective queries, and combine information from disparate sources.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conduct in-depth research, evaluation, analysis, integration, and interpretation of information sourced from various open channels
Produce high-quality intelligence products on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, including briefings and analytical papers
Communicate findings effectively and accurately to team members, management, and relevant stakeholders
Prepare and deliver briefings and presentations on areas of focus and expertise
Navigate various social media platforms proficiently and adapt quickly to new and emerging platforms and technologies
Maintain meticulous organization of ongoing and completed research, ensuring accessibility for self and others
Facilitate information sharing by fostering relationships and partnering with internal stakeholder groups as well as external local and federal law enforcement
Conduct intelligence analysis, threat assessment and analysis, and investigations on persons and groups of interest to determine whether they pose a threat, including interviews and data analysis
Manage and safeguard sensitive information, including case files and intelligence reports

https://twitter.com/i/jobs/1782937832321077248

Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer (Starshield)

This one is in Redmond WA, where the Starlink factory is located. This suggests that Starshield satellites are manufactured the same place as Starlinks. Again, a Top Secret clearance is desired.

"Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts.While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

SpaceX is looking to hire a satellite mechanical and mechanisms engineer to work with a brilliant and passionate team of engineers. You will own the design and development responsibilities over our complex mechanisms and mechanical systems. You will have the opportunity to work on the architecture, simulation, and controls of electromechanical systems for the world’s most cutting-edge satellites."

https://twitter.com/i/jobs/1754777153462571008

There's an almost identically worded position at Hawthorne CA, suggesting that Starshield satellite design engineering takes place there too.

There are similar Starshield Electrical and RF engineering positions at both Redmond and Hawthorne.


nsNS

[Yazata]

There are indications that there are more than one kind of Starshield satellite.

The US National Reconnaissance Office, the spy-satellite agency, is shifting away from a small number of large super-expensive satellites to...

"The National Reconnaissance Office will kick off its transition from large, exquisite satellites to a proliferation of smaller systems this year, one of the organization’s top officials said April 9.

Proliferation has become a key tenet as the U.S. military builds out its space architectures. Constellations of many smaller satellites are seen as more resilient than a lesser amount of larger systems that would give adversaries a concise list of targets to attack."

This kind of Starshield will essentially be what the space industry calls a "bus", a satellite that provides power, attitude control and communications, while playing host to specialist payloads.

Reportedly, these will essentially be Starlink satellites except that they will carry photographic and other intelligence sensor suites from Northrop Grumman instead of Starlink civilian communications gear.

The recent NROL-146 launch, a Falcon-9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base is widely believed to have been a load of the spy Starshield satellites. The mission patch (below) almost says as much.

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/...chitecture

Another kind of Starshield satellite will basically be a more conventional Starlink except encrypted for military communications use. the US Navy is reportedly rolling these out.

"I’ve seen first-hand the tremendous transformational capability that STtNG has brought to the Fleet. The small footprint, high bandwidth system allows the Fleet to download cybersecurity patches, send large files across the globe, and conduct critical Navy administrative functions faster than ever using a terminal the size of a pizza box”.

[Image: GNuZWdXWsAA6X8a?format=jpg&name=small]

[Yazata]

Marco Langsbroek (Technical University of Delft) also believes that NROL-146 was a group of Starshield satellites. He observed 21 individual satellites from this launch.