US Space Force grants SpaceX access to restricted orbital tracking data

US Space Force grants SpaceX access to restricted orbital tracking data

The agreement, reported by The Guardian, involves SpaceX providing access to its Stargaze sensors in exchange for military tracking data.

According to a report by The Guardian, the U.S. Space Force gave SpaceX access to its most precise, restricted orbital tracking data on an unspecified date in 2026. The data, known as the High Accuracy Catalog (HAC), includes Vector Covariance Messages (VCMs) that track objects in low Earth orbit down to 10 centimeters in size. As a plain-language explanation, VCMs describe the position and velocity of space objects along with the uncertainty of those measurements.

The data has been closely held to prevent exposure of defense capabilities and reverse-engineering of satellite sensors. The data is primarily used to track foreign satellite positions and commercial spacecraft to prevent collisions. The restricted nature of VCM data reflects its sensitivity, as it includes tracking information used to track foreign defense satellites. Sharing this data with SpaceX raises national security concerns about potential leaks or misuse.

The U.S. Space Force and SpaceX signed a contract allowing SpaceX to access this restricted data in exchange for providing the military with access to Stargaze, SpaceX’s satellite-based tracking system. The Space Force acknowledged the agreement in a statement to Breaking Defense, describing it as an exchange of commercial data sources for access to controlled, unclassified military tracking data.

This data-sharing agreement is part of a broader effort by the military to leverage commercial data sources while reducing its own involvement in space traffic management. The military frames the exchange as mutually beneficial, gaining more observational data.

Stargaze, SpaceX’s satellite-based tracking system, uses cameras and radars mounted on Starlink satellites to detect objects down to about 50 centimeters in size, but it lacks the precision of the military’s HAC data. A SpaceX employee stated at an industry conference that military radar data is a valuable tool to supplement Stargaze. This access gives SpaceX a competitive edge in commercial space situational awareness services.

SpaceX has about 11,000 Starlink satellites in orbit and plans to grow that number to as many as 20,000 in the coming years. Starlink’s massive satellite constellation is a critical component of SpaceX’s lower Earth orbit operations, which includes broadband internet services. The expansion of Starlink satellites increases the need for precise orbital tracking to avoid collisions. Industry observers project the commercial U.S. space market will reach nearly $2 trillion in value over the next decade.

That growth makes space traffic control strategically important, and access to military data could provide companies like SpaceX with a competitive advantage in the expanding sector.

The data-sharing agreement comes as the U.S. government grapples with how to manage commercial space traffic. Traccs, the government program created in 2025 to transition commercial space traffic control away from the defense department, has struggled with underfunding and staffing shortages since its launch. The program manages thousands of satellites, debris, and spacecraft, aiming to prevent up to 50,000 near-collisions daily, but its operational challenges have left a gap in commercial space traffic coordination.

The Trump administration proposed slashing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (Traccs) budget to nearly zero in fiscal year 2027, but the House reinstated funding. The repeated defunding attempts signal the administration’s push to privatize space traffic control, even though industry supports Traccs as a level playing field for commercial operators. Industry observers report wide support among commercial space companies for Traccs, as it would create a level playing field by reducing reliance on a single private entity like SpaceX for orbital traffic coordination. This consensus reflects worries that handing space traffic control to SpaceX could disadvantage competitors and centralize market power, undermining fair competition in the industry.

Industry observers, including former Traccs employee Cole Donovan, warn that granting SpaceX access to military orbital tracking data risks creating a vendor lock scenario, where the U.S. government becomes overly reliant on SpaceX for space traffic coordination. Donovan likened the situation to a trucking company controlling all traffic lights, which would allow it to disadvantage competitors by manipulating access. Donovan’s analogy captures concerns about vendor lock-in, where government reliance on a single private entity could stifle competition and centralize control over critical space infrastructure.

A former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged SpaceX’s responsiveness to space safety concerns but criticized the U.S. government’s failure to establish a coherent space governance framework. The official expressed disappointment in the government’s inability to provide transparency, guidance, and a level playing field for all space operators, despite SpaceX’s efforts to address safety concerns proactively. The official emphasized that while SpaceX has stepped into gaps left by government inaction, the lack of a cohesive policy framework risks creating an uneven regulatory landscape for all operators.

Public Citizen lobbyist Craig Holman alleges that the Trump administration is rewarding Elon Musk with lucrative government contracts in the space industry as a political donor, citing Musk’s financial and political influence. Holman frames Musk’s access to military data as part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration favoring political allies in government contracts. This allegation highlights ethical conflicts and potential conflicts of interest in the privatization of space traffic control.

SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment from The Guardian on the data-sharing agreement with the U.S. Space Force. The lack of response contrasts with the Space Force’s acknowledgment of the agreement, leaving SpaceX’s motivations and internal justifications for the data access unclarified in public statements.