知情人士：SpaceX正为美情报机构建设间谍卫星网络

9月前

路透社16日报道称，据知情人士透露，美国太空探索技术公司（SpaceX）正在根据与美国情报机构签订的机密合同，建设一个由数百颗间谍卫星组成的网络。路透社称，这表明亿万富翁、企业家马斯克的太空探索技术公司与美国国家安全机构之间的联系正在加深。

SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a US intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies.

图源：视觉中国

知情人士称，美国太空探索技术公司在2021年与美国国家侦察局签署了一份价值18亿美元的间谍卫星网络建设合同。建成后，该间谍卫星网络将大大提升美国政府和军方在全球任何地方快速发现潜在目标的能力。

The network is being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said.

If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the US government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.

据了解，2022年12月，SpaceX宣布成立名为“星盾”的新业务部门，目标客户是美国国家安全机构和五角大楼。SpaceX宣称，“星盾”将利用近地轨道上的“星链”卫星星座满足美国国防和情报机构日益增长的需求。

“该计划显示了SpaceX参与美国情报和军事项目的程度，并表明五角大楼对旨在支持地面部队的大型低地球轨道卫星系统进行了更深入的投资。”路透社评论称。

The plans show the extent of SpaceX's involvement in US intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.

该媒体还援引消息人士的话称，相关合同标志着美国情报机构对SpaceX公司“日益增长的信任”。此前，就“星链”互联网卫星星座参与俄乌冲突一事，该公司所有者马斯克与拜登政府发生冲突并引发争议。

The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said.

马斯克资料图图源：视觉中国

路透社还爆料称，五角大楼已是SpaceX的“大客户”，多次使用该公司“猎鹰9”运载火箭向太空发射“军事有效载荷”。有消息人士称，“星盾”项目的首颗原型卫星于2020年发射，这是另一份价值约2亿美元合同的一部分，该合同随后帮助SpaceX获得了如今的18亿美元合同。

The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. Starshield's first prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate, roughly $200 million contract that helped position SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, one of the sources said.