A Private Empire in Orbit

Oligarchs Are Building a Technocratic Cage Above Us All

BEACON Issue 2: The Orpheus Scenario

Something is being built around us and above us—and it isn’t for our benefit.
The Orpheus Scenario is a sobering analysis of a global system taking shape: a web of privately controlled satellite arrays, weaponized behavioral technologies, and invisible mechanisms of influence and surveillance. But this is more than a technological threat, it's a geopolitical one.

In a world destabilized by crisis and conflict, power is quietly consolidating into the hands of a few. The infrastructure now being deployed doesn’t just enable control it favors authoritarian governance, corporate dominance, and the erosion of human agency on a planetary scale. The result is an emerging oligarchy, engineered to look like progress.

The Orpheus Scenario traces this shift from the suppression of radical technologies to the rise of a control grid built in plain sight, advancing without debate. It’s a map, a warning, and a call to action.

If you care about the future of freedom, read this and share it widely. Understand what’s happening. Because the final stage of this system’s construction depends on one thing: that we don’t notice in time.

For the first time in history, we are deploying a global­-scale artificial infrastructure in space.

Imagine waking up each morning under a sky owned not by nature or nation, but by corporations with the power to surveil, interrupt, or even erase your digital presence. That future is already here… silently deployed in low Earth orbit.

We are witnessing the emergence of a sovereign infrastructure regime above our heads. Constellations of privately owned satellites, unbound by traditional laws, now serve as the central nervous system of modern civilization: routing internet, watching military movements, mapping behavior, and feeding artificial intelligence engines the raw data of humanity.

These systems were sold to us as tools of progress—faster broadband, global connectivity, more precise GPS. But what’s actually taking shape is a privatized control lattice, where corporations act as de facto governments and the public has no representation, redress, or escape.

The Scenario in Motion: The Sky Belongs to Corporations

The shift from terrestrial to orbital sovereignty is happening faster than most people realize. While states argue over airspace and trade policy, billionaires launch hundreds of satellites per week, creating an autonomous infrastructure with global reach and zero democratic oversight.

Here’s how it works:

• Corporations like SpaceX, Amazon, and Eutelsat launch thousands of cubesats into low Earth orbit (LEO), forming mesh networks capable of real-time global surveillance and communication.

• These satellites relay information to a growing network of ground stations—massive, automated facilities in remote regions (Greenland, Australia, Alaska) shaped like clusters of white domes.

• Data is processed in hyperscale AI cloud systems, often located offshore or in regulatory gray zones.

• The system is monetized via commercial services, but dual-used for intelligence, warfare, and predictive behavioral analytics.

This system isn’t speculative. It’s already operating—mapping protester movements, enabling drone strikes, shaping algorithmic feeds, and delivering battlefield communications.

In 2022, SpaceX’s Starlink played a decisive role in Ukraine’s defense against Russia. At the flip of a switch, a private company altered the geopolitical balance of war.
(And then, just as easily, Musk restricted it.)

This is the power of a digital sovereign.

From Broadband to Battlefield: The Growth Path of Orbital Power

What began as a race to deliver internet has become a race to own human infrastructure itself.

The Growth Stages:

1. Phase I – Connectivity Layer:
   Promise the world faster internet and rural access. Win regulatory support. Blanket the Earth in satellites.

2. Phase II – Behavioral Intelligence Layer:
   Capture metadata from billions of devices. Train AI systems on real-time human activity patterns.

3. Phase III – Influence & Enforcement Layer:
   Use AI predictions to shape digital experiences, influence elections, and predict dissent. Feed that data back into enforcement tools—targeted disinformation, automated blacklists, or drone-based responses.

4. Phase IV – Full Cognitive Infrastructure Control:
   When orbital networks host all communications, enforce identity standards, and coordinate defense systems, they become sovereign in all but name.

Who Owns the Sky?

Let’s name the players. The following entities already operate or control major slices of the orbital grid:

⚠️ Most systems are dual-use: marketed for civilian benefit, quietly integrated into military command structures.

Why This Matters

This isn't just about satellites. It’s about who holds the master keys to reality.

Control the orbital grid, and you control:

• All internet traffic and location-based services

• Financial transaction routing

• Predictive policing and behavior scoring

• Global logistics and military coordination

• The algorithmic scaffolding of perception

And unlike a government, these orbital sovereigns don’t answer to voters. They don’t need to.

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Systems and Capabilities

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Ground Stations

Terrestrial hubs that send commands to satellites and receive data back from them.

• Control satellite movement and payload operations (sensors, communications, surveillance).

• Act as gateways for data to flow between satellites and Earth­-based infrastructure.

• Enable remote intervention, real­time updates, and coordination of satellite networks.

Satellite Constellations

Groups of coordinated satellites forming a grid around Earth (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, military).

• Persistent global coverage, high­speed communications, Earth observation, object tracking.

• EM field manipulation (frequency ranges from ELF to millimeter wave).

• Can be leveraged for surveillance, crowd control, biosignal mapping, and climate engineering.

Satellite Data Centers (SDCs)

Infrastructure managing the collection, storage, and transmission of satellite-­derived data.

• Aggregate global data on population movement, environmental changes, infrastructure.

• Interface with AI systems for rapid pattern recognition and predictive analytics.

• Cross­reference biometric, location, and behavioral data from space­-based sensors.

Internet Data Centers (IDCs)

Ground­based facilities for distributing data via fiber or wireless networks.

• Support global access to satellite internet (e.g., via low­orbit constellations).

• Act as relay nodes for surveillance data or psyops campaigns targeting populations.

• Integrate with social media, telecom, and digital ID infrastructures.

AI Data Centers

Specialized infrastructure for training and deploying artificial intelligence models.

• Analyze satellite data for terrain recognition, threat modeling, biometric analysis.

• Power autonomous systems (e.g., drone swarms, smart weaponry, remote diagnostics).

• Enable real­time population modeling and behavior prediction.

Connected Devices (IoT, Mobile, Wearables)

The interface through which individuals are linked to satellite and AI systems.

• Constant uplink via satellite broadband or mobile networks.

• Biometric sensors collect health, location, emotional, or neurological data.

• May transmit or receive signals affecting health (e.g., electromagnetic fields, stimuli).

Supporting Ground Infrastructure is Significant

The number of active ground stations and associated data centers has also expanded to support this growing satellite network. While exact figures are not readily available, the proliferation of satellite constellations necessitates a corresponding increase in ground­-based infrastructure to manage data transmission, processing, and storage.

This includes ground stations for satellite communication, internet data centers for distributing satellite internet services, and AI data centers for processing the vast amounts of data collected.

As of March 2025, the ground station networks for Starlink and Project Kuiper are in various stages of development and deployment. Information on China's Qianfan constellation's ground stations is limited.

• For a visual representation of active and planned Starlink ground stations, you can refer to this interactive map: satellitemap.space

• Project Kuiper's satellite rollout, indicating plans for ground station infrastructure in the region. datacenterdynamics.com

• Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) operates a global network of ground stations that could potentially support Project Kuiper's operations. aws.amazon.com

• Information regarding the ground station infrastructure for China's Qianfan satellite constellation is limited in publicly available sources.

Please note that the deployment of ground stations is an ongoing process, and new stations may have been established since the latest available reports.

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The Pace and Scope of Change is Concerning

The evolution of the satellite ecosystem has accelerated dramatically in recent decades, driven by the convergence of aerospace innovation, data­-driven services, and private capital. The timeline illustrates this shift, beginning with the sparse early decades of satellite launches and culminating in an explosion of activity from the 2010s onward.

Key inflection points include the advent of commercial satellite constellations, the rise of reusable launch vehicles, and the integration of artificial intelligence in space-ground operations. This upward curve in deployment correlates with an expanding web of terrestrial ground stations and specialized data centers, forming a global architecture of orbital data processing and distribution.

As the graphic highlights, the current pace of deployment signals not just a continuation, but a potential multiplication of satellite systems

As of early 2025, the satellite industry has experienced unprecedented growth. According to ABI Research, over 14,000 satellites are currently in orbit, with more than 10,400 actively functioning. Notably, over 93% of these active satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

This surge is largely driven by mega-constellations like SpaceX's Starlink, which, as of November 2024, operated 6,476 active satellites, accounting for nearly half of all active satellites. Other significant players include Eutelsat OneWeb with 648 satellites and emerging operators such as Amazon's Project Kuiper, which plans to deploy over 3,000 satellites in the coming years.

Looking ahead, projections indicate continued expansion of satellite deployments.

• A moderate estimate by McKinsey forecasts approximately 27,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.

• In a more extreme scenario, Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard­-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics suggests that the number of active satellites could grow up to 100,000 by the end of the decade.

This exponential increase underscores the rapid evolution of the satellite industry and highlights the critical need for sustainable space traffic management and debris mitigation strategies.

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Human Rights Concerns Are Staggering

The rapid advancements in technology, including satellite constellations, can amplify these concerns, especially given the potential for power to be misused. Looking at the current political climate, both in the United States and globally, we can identify several troubling trends and developments that could lay the groundwork for the worst-case scenarios we discussed earlier.

Expansion of Surveillance Powers

The increasing use of surveillance technology, including facial recognition, data tracking, and social media monitoring, is raising alarms about the scope of government oversight over individuals' personal lives. Under the guise of security, governments are often granted the ability to monitor and control citizens' activities more intrusively. For example:

• The NSA's mass data collection programs, as revealed by Edward Snowden, showcased how technology could be used to infringe on privacy. Even though the program faced backlash, surveillance continues to grow, especially with the rise of digital technologies.

• The growth of facial recognition technology, which is being adopted by governments and corporations, has the potential to build massive databases that could be used for continuous surveillance of entire populations.

Centralization of Power in Tech Giants

Tech companies have become more powerful and influential than ever, sometimes forming public-private partnerships with government agencies. This trend can be concerning because:

• Monopolies or heavily concentrated control over communication, social media, and data can lead to biased information flows or even censorship, as seen with certain platforms favoring particular political narratives or agendas.

• The potential to exploit satellite technology, such as through communication networks, could give tech companies and governments unprecedented access to global communication channels and enable them to silence dissent or control narratives.

Geoengineering and Climate Control Narratives

There are also growing discussions about geoengineering and the potential use of satellite technology to control weather patterns or manipulate the environment. While this may sound like science fiction, there are emerging plans and investments aimed at influencing climate conditions.

The ability to control or manipulate the weather through satellites could theoretically give governments or corporations the power to create extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, or storms, potentially destabilizing entire regions.

Public Trust and Accountability

There's an increasing skepticism and distrust regarding government transparency, especially in areas like data collection, AI deployment, and military spending. This lack of accountability can lead to:

• Overreach and corruption where policies are enacted without sufficient oversight, enabling secretive activities or decisions that affect people’s lives.

• The lack of clear and enforceable international regulations for space technologies, such as satellite constellations, makes it possible for governments to act with impunity in secretive or morally questionable ways.

The Growing Influence of Authoritarianism

Globally, authoritarian tendencies are on the rise, with countries like China and Russia pushing forward with ambitious space programs, while at the same time limiting freedom of expression, implementing censorship, and cracking down on dissent. This creates a dangerous precedent for how satellite technology could be used as a tool of oppression:

• China’s surveillance state is infamous for its use of technology to monitor citizens, especially through facial recognition and online activity tracking. The government’s ability to deploy surveillance networks globally—via space-based systems—could create unprecedented global influence for authoritarian regimes.

• In the U.S., the erosion of civil liberties and the rise of partisan politics can undermine democratic institutions, making it easier for authoritarian policies to take root, especially in a future where control over technological infrastructure (like satellite networks) becomes central to governance.

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What Comes Next

• We are entering an era where surveillance becomes ambient, warfare becomes predictive, and governance becomes invisible. Nations are ceding control to corporations with celestial vantage points and terrestrial ambitions. And once this infrastructure is entrenched, reclaiming public sovereignty may become impossible.

  Unless we build counter-networks. Unless we wake up.

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What Does This Mean for Democratic Freedom?

The expansion of satellite networks and the integration of emerging technologies into every aspect of life are undeniably powerful tools. However, without stringent regulations, international oversight, and a commitment to human rights, we are potentially heading toward a future where democratic freedoms are increasingly compromised. The ability of any nation or private industry to dominate communication, surveillance, and even military capabilities through space-based technologies is a threat to individual liberty and autonomy.

The trend towards increasing centralization of power, both within governments and tech companies, can create vulnerabilities that could be exploited by those with nefarious intentions.

It’s a very real concern. The convergence of rapidly advancing technology, global political instability, and the centralization of power creates a situation where these tools—meant to connect, inform, and protect—can also be used to control and suppress. As satellite constellations grow and nations continue to stake claims in space, we must advocate for transparency, oversight, and protections that prioritize individual freedoms and global cooperation. The risk of exploitation by authoritarian powers is tangible.

Countering the potential misuse of private satellite arrays will require a mix of grassroots activism, technological development, and political action. The key lies in transparency, decentralization, and the empowerment of individuals to resist large­scale manipulation.

We need international agreements, national policies, standards, and laws that regulate the use of space technologies and ensure they serve the greater good rather than becoming tools of oppression.

There is hope because collective action can drive change. If enough individuals, communities, and nations push for ethical frameworks and human-centered approaches to these technologies, we can still shape a future where human dignity, free will, and self-determination are protected. The challenge is immense, but so is our ability to fight for a future where we remain the authors of our own stories.

The question now is: how can we ensure we don’t lose the very freedoms we hold dear?

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This is a free article from BEACON Issue 2. All of the articles from this publication will be free to read on Substack. Subscribe to receive updates and see the full analysis presented in this important issue.

Full digital and print copies of this issue will be available April 15, 2025 at Tregaryn.com

Coming Soon on the Substack Series:

• Geomagnetism and Satellite Constellations — Geotechnical Architecture and the Rising Geophysical Risks of Space-Based Control Systems

• The Greenland Gambit — An Overt Strategy for Global Control?

• A Lesson from History — Nikola Tesla's Vision and The War for Energy and Technological Control

• The Long War on American Stability — Assaults on Health, Security, and Resources Have Weakened the Nation