The apparent rapprochement between Donald Trump and Elon Musk gives SpaceX an opportunity to contribute to Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense project.
In what might be a sign that the ruptured political alliance between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk is on the mend, SpaceX is set to receive a contract worth about $2 billion from the Department of Defense (DoD) for satellite development in support of Trump’s Golden Dome national missile defense shield. The contract would cover the development of a space-based sensor constellation of up to 600 satellites to direct and track missiles, aircraft, and hypersonic missile threats.
Understanding Trump’s “Golden Dome” Project
Golden Dome is a large-scale project that is supposed to provide comprehensive national defense against all manner of missile, drone, and hypersonic weapons threats. But space plays a vital role in this ambitious undertaking.
It isn’t only for tracking purposes. Space will inevitably be the place from where interceptors are launched to prevent attacks directed against America. $24 billion in funding for the Golden Dome initiative was included in a spending bill signed into law in July by the president.
Trump Seems to Be Listening to Elon Musk Again
It should be noted that the specific SpaceX contract has not yet been announced. Although, it has been cited repeatedly by people allegedly in the know. This would also track with other SpaceX related stories of late.
For instance, there has been a real change in the leadership of space policy in the United States, what with the renomination of private space astronaut and tech billionaire, Jared Isaacman, to the role of NASA director, overriding the seemingly inexorable rise of current Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as leader of the space agency.
Isaacman is a Musk ally, and his renomination is viewed as a direct rebuttal to Duffy’s attempts to marginalize SpaceX’s hold on America’s space agency. Now that Isaacman—and by extension, Musk—are seemingly back in the good graces of the Trump administration after Musk and Trump had their infamous crash-out several months ago, it stands to reason that the Trump administration would look to SpaceX to fulfill Trump’s dreams for the Golden Dome.
Why SpaceX Is a Great Pick for the Golden Dome
The very high number of satellites suggests a necessary shift toward what’s known as a “constellation-based” missile-track and space-sensor architecture rather than traditional few large satellites. This is in keeping with SpaceX’s innovative Starlink (and Starshield) model of having massive numbers of less advanced, cheaper, easily replaceable satellites in constellations.
Given SpaceX’s unique success for years in reusable launches and disposable satellites, paired with having Musk’s ally, Isaacman, and an already captured audience at the Pentagon, it stands to reason that SpaceX will win the Golden Dome contract.
Golden Dome is probably the most important national security policy the Trump administration has undertaken. It is also a time-sensitive program. After all, both China and Russia (and even Iran and North Korea) have far more working hypersonic weapons than the United States currently possesses. That alone makes a layered national defense system a priority. And SpaceX is the only defense contractor with a proven record of success with complex, long-term space mission sets.
The Trump administration would be wise to grant them this contract.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Brian Jason.
