I wonder if this is Putin directly threatening Musk with the destruction of Starlink. Starlink is SpaceX’s only profitable business. It brings in over 60% of the companies revenue. Though if Russia initiated or accelerated the Kessler syndrome, everyone would be pissed so probably a bluff…
he did turn it off in 2022, right when putin was getting mad, and shortly after he met with putins propagandist team in QATAR i believe(car racing events).
I’m not sure that it would be practical to take out starlink. They’re small satellites in an enormously large space. I guess we don’t know what we don’t know about space weaponry.
If something travelling retrograde in the same plane as starlink were to fragment, it could easilly destroy thousands of satellites. Mostly temporary, since stuff at that altitude will fall to earth inside a year or so without propulsion.
Its far easier and more likely that Putin has compromat on Elon and is just telling him what to do. Its the most likely reason Trump and Elon are in lock step over the Ukrainian Starlink problems. Putin is really pressured over the recent increased range of Ukrainian attacks and wants it to stop so will risk his prime assets.
Even trump isn’t dumb enough to think the pitiful amount of fuel he buying from Putin will impact fuel prices in the US, but it does give Putin some signifcant short term funds for laundering Iranian oil.
Iran is making out gangbusters from this whole shebang. Tolls on shipping, more cash from the US via Russian drone orders. It’s almost like Trump & co. are imbeciles.
That would be an another incredible display of stupidity and lack of insight on Musks part. Folding to a mere threat is worse than any physical attack for starlink as a defense contractor. Russia almost certainly lacks the ability to significantly damage the constellation, while losses would be covered by insurance and other means. Forcing Putin into action would either call his bluff or show his hand. The world would see a demonstration of Russian ant satellite technology and be able to adapt. A kinetic approach would probably go Kessler syndrome and even if not, it receive very severe international condemnation and pushback from everyone with a space program including China and India. A electronic attack would get a workaround eventually and still piss off everyone who operates in that hemisphere.
I wonder if this is Putin directly threatening Musk with the destruction of Starlink. Starlink is SpaceX’s only profitable business. It brings in over 60% of the companies revenue. Though if Russia initiated or accelerated the Kessler syndrome, everyone would be pissed so probably a bluff…
he did turn it off in 2022, right when putin was getting mad, and shortly after he met with putins propagandist team in QATAR i believe(car racing events).
I’m not sure that it would be practical to take out starlink. They’re small satellites in an enormously large space. I guess we don’t know what we don’t know about space weaponry.
If something travelling retrograde in the same plane as starlink were to fragment, it could easilly destroy thousands of satellites. Mostly temporary, since stuff at that altitude will fall to earth inside a year or so without propulsion.
Its far easier and more likely that Putin has compromat on Elon and is just telling him what to do. Its the most likely reason Trump and Elon are in lock step over the Ukrainian Starlink problems. Putin is really pressured over the recent increased range of Ukrainian attacks and wants it to stop so will risk his prime assets.
Even trump isn’t dumb enough to think the pitiful amount of fuel he buying from Putin will impact fuel prices in the US, but it does give Putin some signifcant short term funds for laundering Iranian oil.
Iran is making out gangbusters from this whole shebang. Tolls on shipping, more cash from the US via Russian drone orders. It’s almost like Trump & co. are imbeciles.
Or Iike Trump Iran and putin are working this all together
That would be an another incredible display of stupidity and lack of insight on Musks part. Folding to a mere threat is worse than any physical attack for starlink as a defense contractor. Russia almost certainly lacks the ability to significantly damage the constellation, while losses would be covered by insurance and other means. Forcing Putin into action would either call his bluff or show his hand. The world would see a demonstration of Russian ant satellite technology and be able to adapt. A kinetic approach would probably go Kessler syndrome and even if not, it receive very severe international condemnation and pushback from everyone with a space program including China and India. A electronic attack would get a workaround eventually and still piss off everyone who operates in that hemisphere.