US military gives Elon Musk’s SpaceX access to sensitive tracking data
Summary
The U.S. Space Force has granted SpaceX access to a restricted, high-accuracy catalogue used to track possible collisions in space. The move comes as the Trump administration and Congress debate funding for the government’s space traffic program, Traccs, and has raised concerns about competition and national security.Key Facts
- SpaceX and the Space Force signed a contract allowing the company to access parts of the military’s controlled, unclassified tracking catalogue.
- The Space Force said it is working with several companies to exchange commercial data for access to catalogue sections when that benefits the government.
- Traccs tracks satellites, debris and spacecraft and helps manage as many as 50,000 potential close encounters a day.
- The Trump administration proposed sharply cutting Traccs funding in fiscal years 2026 and 2027; Congress restored funding in both budget processes described in the article.
- Industry observers have warned that growing government reliance on SpaceX could limit competition and create a vendor lock-in risk.
- A former NOAA official said SpaceX has responded to space safety concerns, while criticizing the government for not establishing a clear space governance framework.
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