NewsBattle for Golden Dome: SpaceX leads new missile defense race

Battle for Golden Dome: SpaceX leads new missile defense race

SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril are the main candidates for building the Golden Dome air defense system. The project aims to protect the USA from missile attacks. What are the details of this endeavor?

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, an American aerospace company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, is involved in building rocket engines, launch vehicles, and spacecraft.
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, an American aerospace company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, is involved in building rocket engines, launch vehicles, and spacecraft.
Images source: © Flickr

What do you need to know?

  • SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril are the frontrunners for building the Golden Dome air defense system, which aims to protect the USA from missile attacks.
  • The project involves placing between 400 and 1,000 satellites in orbit to detect missiles and 200 satellites armed with missiles and lasers.
  • The project's cost could reach hundreds of billions of dollars, with the preliminary engineering and design work for the satellites' protective layer estimated at $6-10 billion.

What are the plans of SpaceX and its partners?

SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril, companies backed by former President Donald Trump, are leading the race to build the Golden Dome. This project aims to create an air defense system similar to Israel's Iron Dome system. Plans include placing hundreds of satellites in orbit to detect and track missiles, along with 200 satellites armed with missiles and lasers to neutralize threats.

Can SpaceX accomplish the project?

Despite positive signs, the decision-making process regarding the Golden Dome is still in its early stages. SpaceX and its partners have met with top U.S. administration officials to present their plans. Some experts express doubts about whether SpaceX will be able to create a cost-effective national defense system.

What are the costs and challenges of the project?

The cost of the Golden Dome could reach hundreds of billions of dollars. SpaceX has estimated that the preliminary engineering and design work for the satellites' protective layer will cost between $6 and $10 billion.

Musk's company already has experience in launching satellites, which may accelerate the project's execution. However, the subscription model proposed by SpaceX might raise concerns, as the government would not have full control over the system.

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