SpaceX gains access to restricted US military orbital data

SpaceX has gained enhanced access to restricted US military tracking data under a contract with the US Space Force, the Guardian said. The agreement gives the company more precise observations of objects in orbit to supplement its own collision-monitoring system, Stargaze.

The agreement comes while the civilian Traffic Coordination System for Space, known as Traccs, struggles with incomplete funding and staffing. The programme was established to take over commercial space-traffic coordination from the US defence department.

What the military data adds

The agreement covers access to US Space Command’s detailed High Accuracy Catalog of objects in orbit. In return, the government receives access to Stargaze cameras and sensors, the Guardian said.

In a statement to Breaking Defense, the Space Force said it was working with several companies to exchange commercial observations for access to sections of the restricted catalogue where the exchange benefits the government.

Stargaze uses cameras and radars mounted on satellites belonging to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite broadband subsidiary. The military catalogue draws on ground-based military sensors, telescopes and radars. The Guardian described the military tracking as more accurate and able to detect smaller objects.

The military uses the observations both to monitor other countries’ satellite positions and to help commercial spacecraft avoid collisions. A SpaceX employee speaking at an industry conference described military radar data as a valuable supplement to Stargaze.

Concerns about security and competition

The records are designated “controlled unclassified information”, meaning they are not classified but access is restricted. The Guardian said the military had closely guarded them because they could reveal limits in defence capabilities. Observers also said the defence department wanted to prevent others from working out how its satellite sensors operate.

Cole Donovan, a former Traccs employee identified as working with the non-profit Stand Up for Science, warned that the access could make SpaceX the dominant provider of commercial space-traffic coordination. His warning concerns the risk of concentrated control, rather than an announced transfer of civilian authority.

An anonymous former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official offered a different assessment. The official said SpaceX had generally responded well to space-safety concerns and placed greater responsibility on the government for failing to establish clear rules, transparency and equal conditions for operators.

Traccs’ future remains under debate among the US administration, Congress and industry. The administration proposed cutting its funding to nearly zero for fiscal 2027, but the House of Representatives reinserted the funding.