Author Topic: SpaceX's new product/department: Starshield (Read 84874 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #20 on:** 11/24/2022 05:17 am »

I assume this use of Starshield is just a coincidence:

https://spacenews.com/satellites-to-test-fly-new-cyber-software/

Quote

Satellites to test-fly new cyber software
by Debra Werner — April 13, 2022

As space systems face growing cyberattacks, the Aerospace Corp. and TriSept Corp. are preparing separate flight tests of software to alert satellite operators of anomalies detected onboard.

[…]

Aerospace plans to test its Starshield intrusion-detection software on Slingshot, a 12-unit cubesat

I believe Slingshot launched on LauncherOne back in June.

JayWee · « **Reply #21 on:** 12/02/2022 10:48 pm »

Website is up:
https://www.spacex.com/starshield/index.html

Quote from: SpaceX

- EARTH OBSERVATION
- COMMUNICATIONS
- HOSTED PAYLOADS

- Starlink's inter-satellite laser communications terminal, which is the only communications laser operating at scale in orbit today, can be integrated onto partner satellites to enable incorporation into the Starshield network.

edzieba · « **Reply #22 on:** 12/02/2022 11:05 pm »

These could be the 'mystery secret Starlinks' that were stacked on top of Globalstar FM15 and Transporter-3. The on-sat photo matches the diagram of the 'dual array' Starlink.

zack · « **Reply #23 on:** 12/02/2022 11:12 pm »

Quote from: edzieba on 12/02/2022 11:05 pm

These could be the 'mystery secret Starlinks' that were stacked on top of Globalstar FM15 and Transporter-3. The on-sat photo matches the diagram of the 'dual array' Starlink.

Was thinking the same.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #24 on:** 12/02/2022 11:21 pm »

Quote from: zack on 12/02/2022 11:12 pm

Quote from: edzieba on 12/02/2022 11:05 pm
These could be the 'mystery secret Starlinks' that were stacked on top of Globalstar FM15 and Transporter-3. The on-sat photo matches the diagram of the 'dual array' Starlink.

Was thinking the same.

The payload separation system seems to match the payload attach system fittings and CNC milled/additively manufactured payload adapter plates.

Tywin · « **Reply #25 on:** 12/03/2022 12:09 am »

This is bad news for Planet Labs, BlackSky and Satellogic...

Tywin · « **Reply #26 on:** 12/03/2022 12:17 am »

Speculation, now that we see Starlink getting into the Earth Observation business, and with the past purchase of IoT's Swarm, could it be integrated into the Starlink constellation?

DanClemmensen · « **Reply #27 on:** 12/03/2022 01:08 am »

Quote from: Tywin on 12/03/2022 12:17 am

Speculation, now that we see Starlink getting into the Earth Observation business, and with the past purchase of IoT's Swarm, could it be integrated into the Starlink constellation?

Yes, eventually and at several levels of integration. The "easiest" is integrated marketing of the completely separate services. Next level is software integration of the UI and some of the datasets. The next is use of ISL to move the data from the observation satellites to the comms satellties in the next generation of observation satellites. (ISL can be V-band or laser). This dramatically increases the data rate and/or decreases the required power, and eliminates the separate ground infrastructure. In theory they might ultimately host the observation instruments on the comms satellites, but there are serious problems to solve and a fairly low ROI for this step.

Asteroza · « **Reply #28 on:** 12/04/2022 11:29 pm »

Hrm government starlink, but not necessarily Government starlink? As in available for governments besides the USA?

Also some backhaul is still Starlink via VPN over ISL?

That sat sorta looks like the space allocation for one of the SDA sat design parameters (that red block https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47145.msg2147001#msg2147001)? Which might suggest that is the base for the Starshield sat, so SpaceX recycling SDA development work.

Also, what's up with the weird circular thing in the middle of the sat? Some sort of fresnel plate on deployable telescope spider struts? Some trick to flatpack a telescope barrel?

raptorx2 · « **Reply #29 on:** 12/18/2022 11:16 pm »

Sounds like perhaps the DoD has found not only a "short-notice capability to launch", but perhaps also a "short-notice capability to manufacture satellites" in SpaceX. After all, the capability to launch on short-notice is not so important when you have to wait 3 years for Boeing or Northrop to produce a "to specification" Satellite.

su27k · « **Reply #30 on:** 12/24/2022 02:54 am »

MECO podcast about Starshield: https://mainenginecutoff.com/podcast/236

I think the question of how exactly SpaceX will sell Starshield to DoD is fair, I have been wondering about the same thing.

su27k · « **Reply #31 on:** 01/20/2023 02:07 am »

With Starshield, SpaceX readies for battle

Quote from: SpaceNews

Now that SpaceX has established itself as a leading provider of U.S. national security launches, it is seeking a bigger share of the defense market with a new product line called Starshield. SpaceX quietly unveiled Starshield last month offering defense and intelligence agencies custom-built spacecraft, sensors, and secure communications services leveraging SpaceX’s investment in its Starlink network of broadband satellites.

Unfortunately there's nothing new in the article, just a bunch of things we already knew.

spacenuance · « **Reply #32 on:** 09/09/2023 04:32 am »

So, is Starshield happening separate from the SDA's program? Also lets just, uh, ignore the rest of his tweet if you agree or disagree, no need to have this thread nuked if we start arguing over that stuff here . . .

Quote

SpaceX is building Starshield for the US government, which is similar to, but much smaller than Starlink, as it will not have to handle millions of users. That system will be owned and controlled by the US government.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1700345943105638636?s=20

Asteroza · « **Reply #33 on:** 09/14/2023 08:16 am »

Quote from: spacenuance on 09/09/2023 04:32 am

So, is Starshield happening separate from the SDA's program?

Yeah, SpaceX bailed on subsequent SDA transport layer tranches, since you know, they have operational network experience, and thought poorly of the laser link interoperability SDA/DoD/DARPA was forcing on the participants. To be fair, integrating other people's partially complete chunks/endpoints into your own network that is already global, orbital, and highly optimized for itself is a difficult endeavor.

edzieba · « **Reply #34 on:** 09/14/2023 12:03 pm »

Quote from: Asteroza on 09/14/2023 08:16 am

Quote from: spacenuance on 09/09/2023 04:32 am
So, is Starshield happening separate from the SDA's program?

Yeah, SpaceX bailed on subsequent SDA transport layer tranches, since you know, they have operational network experience, and thought poorly of the laser link interoperability SDA/DoD/DARPA was forcing on the participants. To be fair, integrating other people's partially complete chunks/endpoints into your own network that is already global, orbital, and highly optimized for itself is a difficult endeavor.

I don't think SpaceX ever bid on the Transport Layer, only the Tracking Layer.

jpo234 · « **Reply #35 on:** 09/28/2023 03:49 pm »

SpaceX inks first Space Force deal for government-focused Starshield satellite network

Quote

The existence of the one-year contract was confirmed to Bloomberg by Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek, who said it was awarded on September 1st. Under the deal, SpaceX will provide “Starshield end-to-end service via the Starlink constellation, user terminals, ancillary equipment, network management and other related services.” The contract has a $70 million ceiling, with $15 million being obligated to the company by the end of this month, and is expected to support 54 mission partners across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Crispy · « **Reply #36 on:** 09/28/2023 04:28 pm »

That wording:

“Starshield end-to-end service via the Starlink constellation, user terminals, ancillary equipment, network management and other related services.”

implies that this is not a separate constellation but a service that piggy-backs on Starlink.

I thought "Starshield" was a version of the Starlink satellite/bus customised for military operations. Or was it never that cut and dried?

kenny008 · « **Reply #37 on:** 09/28/2023 04:33 pm »

I agree. I'm not sure I understand the distinction, especially in context of his tweet. If it's the same satellite constellation, how is this really a separation of civilian and military use? Just because the ground hardware is different? Different software? Seems like the sticking point in the current conflict is that the terms of service prevented military use. Is this just a different terms of service?

Elvis in Space · « **Reply #38 on:** 09/28/2023 04:51 pm »

After initially being disappointed with Elon's decision about prohibiting certain uses for Starlink, I think I understand better where this is headed. It might be the same constellation but it puts military uses, decisions, operations, and security in military hands. Elon is no longer in the hot seat to be a diplomat or general. I think we were all a little surprised at how quickly the need and use grew. The questions involved may have surprised Elon as well.

Asteroza · « **Reply #39 on:** 09/28/2023 11:05 pm »

To summarize, I believe "Starshield" is currently a mix of the following

1. A DoD semicustomizable satellite bus, possibly the basis of the early SDA constellation tracking layer tranche 0 sats
2. A service using said sats, which can use ISL's to link into conventional commercial Starlink
3. An 800 sat "Starlink-lite" constellation/service SpaceX is shopping around to the DoD, as alternative to the SDA constellation/PWSA/PLEO (which they deliberately avoided bidding on the SDA constellation transport layer contracts as SpaceX disliked something about the ISL network interoperability)