US military gives Elon Musk’s SpaceX access to sensitive tracking data
This gives the company an advantage in tracking objects in orbit, raising national security concerns and fears of greater control over the space industry The US military has given Elon Musk’s SpaceX access to restricted space tracking data, raising a new round of questions about whether the Trump administration is attempting to hand over traffic control in Earth’s orbit to a controversial donor.…
The US military has granted Elon Musk's SpaceX access to sensitive tracking data, raising concerns about the administration's intentions and the concentration of control in the space industry. This move comes after Musk's company, Doge in 2025, laid off staff from the federal government's nascent space traffic control program, and the administration has attempted twice to financially weaken the Traffic Coordination System for Space (Traccs).
With this new contract, SpaceX will have access to precise data on potential satellite collisions, giving it an advantage over competitors. The commercial space market is projected to reach nearly $2tn in value within a decade, and this enhanced access may solidify Musk's dominance in commercial space activity.
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