SpaceX gets $4 billion contract to build missile-tracking ‘Golden Dome’ satellites | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.SpaceX gets $4 billion contract to build missile-tracking ‘Golden Dome’ satellitesNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...ScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SciencePolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsSpaceX gets $4 billion contract to build missile-tracking ‘Golden Dome’ satellitesThe Elon Musk-owned company is already working to develop other parts of Trump’s pricey defense system.The Elon Musk-owned company is already working to develop other parts of Trump’s pricey defense system.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMay 29, 2026, 9:48 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.The Pentagon awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to build missile-tracking satellites linked with President Donald Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” defense system, as reported earlier by Bloomberg. In an announcement on Friday, the US Space Force says the sensor-equipped satellites will allow it to detect and track targets from space.The Elon Musk-owned SpaceX — which recently filed for what could be the biggest initial public offering ever — already has contracts with the Space Force to develop other parts of the Golden Dome. Similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, Trump’s pricey defense system would identify and take down missiles and other airborne targets. SpaceX is set to develop prototypes for space-based interceptors for the Golden Dome and also won a $2.29 billion contract to develop its data network.Some experts are concerned about whether the Golden Dome will actually work against a barrage of missiles and if it would increase the threat of nuclear war. Space Force General Michael Guetlein has said the defense system will have some “operational capability” by the end of 2028, Bloomberg reports.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceSpaceCloseSpacePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceSpaceXCloseSpaceXPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceXMost PopularMost PopularKia’s flagship EV has a battery problemHow Ferrari bungled the design of its first EVHundreds of prolific Wikipedia editors are threatening to go on strikeThe golden age of handheld gaming is already overThis is MSI’s new Claw 8 EX AI Plus gaming handheldThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in ScienceWhat would you be willing to put in your body?Blue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitorRoids were all the rage at the Enhanced GamesHere’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appNASA’s permanent Moon base plans start with three missions this yearGoogle Health is here, but a lot of people want their Fitbit app back insteadWhat would you be willing to put in your body?Victoria Song2:00 PM UTCBlue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitorThomas Ricker8:03 AM UTCRoids were all the rage at the Enhanced GamesVictoria SongMay 27Here’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appStevie BonifieldMay 27NASA’s permanent Moon base plans start with three missions this yearStevie BonifieldMay 26Google Health is here, but a lot of people want their Fitbit app back insteadStevie BonifieldMay 26Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories10:00 AM UTCAdobe’s conversational AI agent is a mediocre design intern2:00 PM UTCHow Ferrari bungled the design of its first EV12:00 PM UTCHundreds of prolific Wikipedia editors are threatening to go on strike1:00 PM UTCBackrooms is at the forefront of horror’s YouTube wave3:00 PM UTCTrump’s mass deportations are only possible with racial profiling3 minutes agoTP Link says its first Wi-Fi 8 routers start shipping in October.The VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights ReservedNotifications DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Sign in to see your notifications or create an account to join the conversation.Sign in

SpaceX has secured a substantial contract from the Pentagon, valued at $4.16 billion, to develop missile-tracking satellites intended to support President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” defense system, a development reported by Bloomberg and the US Space Force. These sensor-equipped satellites are designed to enable the Space Force to detect and track aerial targets from space. Furthermore, SpaceX is already involved in other defense-related work for the Golden Dome initiative, having been awarded a $2.29 billion contract to develop its data network and contracts to develop prototypes for space-based interceptors. This indicates SpaceX's ongoing role in the broader framework of the defense system. Experts have expressed reservations regarding the practical efficacy of the Golden Dome in mitigating missile barrages and concerns about whether the system could escalate the risk of nuclear conflict. Despite these concerns, Space Force General Michael Guetlein indicated that the defense system is projected to achieve some level of operational capability by the end of 2028.