Space becomes part of missile defense.
Starlink communication satellites may become part of a global system to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The US space agency has awarded SpaceX a $9.9 million contract to study the use of Starlink's laser terminals in military missile warning satellites.
The work includes providing experimental equipment and testing the integration of laser communications with the American space-based missile tracking architecture. The project completion date is October 2027. If the program is expanded, the value of the contract could increase to $12.7 million.