It is said that Spacex from Elon Musk wanders somewhat to build a $ 175 billion “Golden Dome” defense system, even if it was launched from the other side of the world.
Trump and Defense Minister Higseth House unveil The first details of the project during the infringement of an oval office on Tuesday, claiming that it could be completed in three years at a cost of 175 billion dollars. Both the budget and the schedule conflicts with the evaluation of the Congress Budget Office, which Estimates The project may take 20 years and cost $ 524 billion.
This large and unusual space shield consists of an unusual network of satellites capable of discovering, tracking and intercepting missiles, as well as a smaller fleet of offensive satellites, Reuters Reports.
The budget settlement bill, which is led by the Republican Party, which is submitted to the House of Representatives, includes $ 25 billion to start the golden dome project, according to the Golden Dome project. Hill. Leaders at Aerospace Tech are already demanding their hands on a contract, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and – of course – Spacex.
In April, sources He said Reuters, which was submitted by Musk’s Satellite and Spaceflight Company, a request to build main parts of the golden dome in partnership with two other US -based companies: Palantir and Drone Manufacy Anuril.
Almost at that time, these companies have developed their plan for the Trump and Pentagon administration, which will include the launch of more than 1,000 new defensive satellites for missing and tracking missiles, as well as a separate fleet of 200 satellites armed with missile or laser missiles, according to Reuters.
In a letter sent to the Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense Stephen Steps on May 1, a group of 42 Democratic lawmakers required A review of the Pentagon’s purchase of the Golden Dome project, noting concerns related to interests on this possible deal with musk.
They wrote: “All this raises concerns about whether the defensive contracts for building a golden dome are an effective way to protect Americans or aim to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites.”
In addition to achieving large new revenues for SpaceX and enhancing the company’s evaluation, the gold dome contract can give Musk a “unacceptable crane” on US national security.
The group indicated a SPACEX proposal to run this defense system via “subscription service”. This can allow the company to overcome the rules of purchase of the Pentagon and exercise control without deterrence on the cost and development of the golden dome, according to the hill.
The lawmakers wrote: “Mr. Musk, as it was claimed that in Ukraine, it was possible to determine when the United States government was providing to reach gold satellite systems.”
Gizmodo communicates to Spacex to comment but did not receive a response by publishing time.
Since donating more than $ 250 million to Trump’s electoral campaign, Musk has become part of his management furniture, and works as a private government employee, chief adviser to the president, and a head of the Ministry of Government efficiency (DOGE).
It should be noted that the bidding partners of the Golden Dome, the co -founder of the Palantir Peter Thil and the founder of Andoril Palmer Loki, are also A long time ago Supporters From Trump.
It is barely the first time that the ties of musk with the president are concerned. In April, a report of Democrats in the Senate estimated He and his companies face at least $ 2.37 billion in legal exposure due to many conflicts of the interests he gained through his work with Dog.
Nevertheless, it is reasonable to believe that the Pentagon can choose Spacex to lead construction on the golden dome. Defense officials may feel that Musk is in a good position to address this project for several reasons.
For anyone, his Spacex Firing Hundreds of satellites said to spy over the past five years, and the sources have informed Reuters that many recently launched initial models can be modified. The company also has the construction of satellites through Starlink – a network consisting of more than 11,000 satellites.
Moreover, the Spacex fleet of reusable missiles can help ensure that the golden dome project remains within the narrow budget restrictions and the timing that the Trump administration has set, although this will remain an arduous task.
If Spacex is not chosen for this task, it is not immediately clear which launch provider can do heavy lifting. NEW Glenn from UNINECLLALANCE Alliance and Glenn is one of the potential competitors, but these heavy compounds have not yet proven themselves.
Depending on the size and weight of the golden dome moons, launch in the United States can help, including Firefly Aerospace. In February, Firefly Fell He held $ 21.8 million with Pentagon to launch a mission within the framework of the army’s rapid space program, which is what the goal To prove the ability of space strength to quickly spread satellites in the event of an emergency.
Even with the advantages of Spacex, it is not clear whether – or any leading technical company in this regard – can already pull this project. No country has launched a space -based defense system with this scale before, and it is difficult to predict the amount of time and money that will be taken by building and publishing this technology.
There are geopolitical tensions to look also. Today, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the United States to abandon the project, saying that the golden dome “will increase the risk of turning space into a war zone and establishing a space armament race and shaking the international security system and combating weapons”, ABC News Reports.
Whether Bentagon and the inaugules of the future golden dome can overcome these obstacles. If Spacex begins in this work, it may open a completely new world of technological, ethical and legal challenges for musk.
https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2025/05/elon-musk-qatar-may-14-2025.jpg
Source link