NASA said it intends to issue a contract to SpaceX that will see the delivery of seven Starshield terminals and accompanying data facilities to provide a “continuous, government-only encrypted data service”.
The terminals will be delivered to NASA’s existing Deep Space Network sites across Australia, the US, and Spain that hold radio antennas supporting interplanetary spacecraft missions.
Supporting NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, this test will examine the suitability of SpaceX’s satellite and communications systems.
“NASA’s SCaN Program requires secure satellite-based data transport services to enhance the resiliency and diversity of the Deep Space Network,” according to the file.
“This six-month pilot will demonstrate Starshield’s ability to augment existing terrestrial fibre with a secure, flexible and redundant communication path.”
SpaceX said that its communications systems are highly secure, with the majority of its communications customers being from the national security sector.
Building on existing communications and imaging service Starlink, Starshield is reported to be an advanced addition to SpaceX’s communications network.
According to its website: “Starshield uses additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting the most demanding government requirements.”