Wednesday, October 23, 2019

SpaceX Tests Encrypted, Military Communications Through Starlink

Hawthorne-based SpaceX has been testing encrypted, military communications through its broadband Internet, Starlink satellite constellation, according to Reuters, saying the U.S Air Force has been testing very high speed communications using Elon Musk's network of low earth orbit satellites. The report said that the Air Force "Global Lightning" program has shown the ability to send data at 610 megabits per second between two military C-12 planes, while in flight, part of a broader effort to test high speed data across a number of other additional military aircraft. The military effort on Starlink was disclosed by SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell, and is part of a $28M contract from the Pentagon which was awarded in 2018, according to the report.

---