America's Intelligence Satellites are Proliferating: Their Protection is Not, With Exceptions

"These assets are launched primarily by the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command, operating under the National Security Space Launch program (NSSL). The government's private-sector partners - SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (a joint-venture by Lockheed Martin and Boeing) provide the lift capacity using Falcon 9, the soon to enter operations Falcon Heavy (SpaceX), and the newly introduced Vulcan Centaur rocket (ULA)."

"Proliferated Architecture represents a strategic shift; its goal is to establish "the largest government constellation in history" consisting of hundreds of satellites with launches planned through 2029. There are roughly half a dozen missions planned for 2026. This project replaces the model of few exquisite, irreplaceable satellites, in favor of resilience through numbers. That logic is sound - but it applies unevenly."

"That policy has worked. The problem is what happens after launch. Over the past four years, most NRO launches fall into three categories. First are signals-intelligence satellites (SIGINT). Second are large, electro-optical imaging satellites (IMINT) - capable of extraordinary resolution, as the public briefly glimpsed when Donald Trump released an undegraded intelligence image in a startling lapse of operational security. Third are the Starshield (the name of the program) satellites."

The U.S. has launched national-security satellites at a staggering pace, yet many sensitive intelligence assets remain exposed to hostile actors after reaching orbit. Launches are conducted mainly by the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command under the National Security Space Launch program, with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance providing rockets such as Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Vulcan Centaur. U.S. law requires at least two capable launch vehicles. Recent NRO launches include SIGINT, high-resolution IMINT, and Starshield satellites. Proliferated Architecture plans hundreds of satellites through 2029 to prioritize resilience through numbers, though application is uneven.

Read at The Cipher Brief