Eyes Everywhere: U.S. Space Militarization Deepens with New NGA Pact
As the world reckons with accelerating climate change, humanitarian crises, and the urgent need for international cooperation, the U.S. government continues to deepen its investment in space militarization. On May 21, 2025, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the U.S. Space Force signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) outlining their roles in tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking (TacSRT) operations. This move further cements space as a militarized domain, relying heavily on commercial imagery and private-sector analytics.
At first glance, the agreement might appear efficient—even pragmatic. Both agencies will now share imagery and analytic resources to avoid duplication, with a shared goal of supporting U.S. combatant commands (COCOMs). But beneath this “industrial-strength collaboration” is a worrying signal: the increasing normalization of global surveillance and military coordination in space, often without public oversight, accountability, or ethical debate.
✍️ What Is TacSRT—and Why Should We Be Concerned about Space Militarization?
TacSRT, or tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking, is the rapid collection and delivery of space-based imagery and data to military decision-makers. Initially developed as a pilot project by the Space Force, TacSRT has expanded to support not only U.S. military missions, but also humanitarian operations in Colombia and Brazil.
On the surface, such efforts may seem benign or even benevolent. But when viewed in the broader context of U.S. defense priorities—where militarized “solutions” are prioritized over diplomacy and development—they raise serious questions.
- Who controls this data—and how is it being used?
- What safeguards exist to prevent misuse, particularly against civilians?
- Are we investing in long-term peace and resilience, or just faster ways to surveil and respond with force?
🛰️ The Private Sector’s Expanding Role in Space Militarization
Much of the imagery feeding into TacSRT is sourced from commercial vendors like Maxar Technologies, a leading provider of high-resolution satellite images. This public-private entanglement further blurs the line between commerce and militarism.
What does it mean when defense agencies outsource their eyes in the sky? It creates a system where the profitability of private firms may align more closely with military conflict than with peace or transparency.
🕊️ What Could These Resources Be Used For Instead?
While NGA and Space Force leaders emphasize operational “efficiency,” this collaboration exemplifies a troubling trend: increasing investment in warfighting capabilities—meanwhile, domestic needs like healthcare, education, housing, and climate resilience remain underfunded.
Imagine what $1 billion invested in space-based humanitarian solutions—without military oversight—could do for global disaster preparedness. Imagine a system where data gathered from orbit is governed by international cooperation and peace agreements rather than combatant commands.
📣 Our Take: We Must Demilitarize Space
The Peace Economy Project calls on Congress, civil society, and international allies to demand transparency, accountability, and demilitarization in space policy. Militarizing orbit is not inevitable—it’s a policy choice, and it’s one we must challenge.
We urge citizens to question the normalization of global surveillance and to advocate for investments in peaceful space exploration, science, diplomacy, and community-centered security.
Join the conversation:
📆 Tuesday, July 8, 2025 – 5:00 PM EST
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