* Science * Policy * Politics # SpaceX gets $4 billion contract to build missile-tracking ‘Golden Dome’ satellites The 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 Roth May 29, 2026, 9:48 PM UTC Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images [](/authors/emma-roth) 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_](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-29/spacex-wins-4-billion-contract-for-us-golden-dome-satellites). In [an announcement on Friday](https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4503728/us-space-force-accelerates-fielding-space-based-airborne-target-indicator-progr), the US Space Force says [the sensor-equipped satellites](https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4471347/securing-the-ultimate-high-ground-how-the-space-force-is-revolutionizing-airbor/) 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](/business/902219/spacex-ipo-details) — 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](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxp27j1xyjo) would identify and take down missiles and other airborne targets. SpaceX is set to [develop prototypes for space-based interceptors](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-24/spacex-anduril-among-companies-to-win-space-interceptor-deals) for the Golden Dome and also [won a $2.29 billion contract ](https://www.reuters.com/science/us-space-force-awards-spacex-229-billion-contract-military-space-data-network-2026-05-26/)to develop its data network. Some experts are concerned about [whether the Golden Dome will actually work](https://www.cato.org/blog/more-concerns-president-trumps-golden-dome) against a barrage of missiles and if it would [increase the threat of nuclear war](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/homeland-missile-defense-golden-zones-not-golden-dome/). 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 Roth * Policy * Politics * Science * Space * SpaceX