SpaceX set to block Ukrainian military from using Starlink internet to control drones
https://sputniknews.com/20230209/spacex-set-to-prevent-ukraines-army-from-using-starlink-internet-to-control-drones–1107102679.html
SpaceX set to block Ukrainian military from using Starlink internet to control drones
SpaceX set to block Ukrainian military from using Starlink internet to control drones
Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX has taken steps to prevent Ukraine’s armed forces from using the Starlink satellite constellation to control and target drones, as the technology “was never intended to be weaponized”, said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX. Wednesday.
2023-02-09T05:45+0000
2023-02-09T05:45+0000
2023-02-09T05:45+0000
spaces
Ukraine
drone
world
stellar link
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“We were really excited to be able to provide connectivity to Ukraine and help them in their…fight for freedom. However, it was never intended for it to be militarized,” Shotwell reportedly said at the 25th conference. FAA Commercial Space Transportation Annual Meeting in Washington. The president did not elaborate on the exact use the Ukrainian military made of Starlink to “weaponize” the constellation of satellites. However, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said earlier that it was training companies of drone operators equipped with Starlink satellite communications, drones and ammunition to target Russian forces. “The Ukrainians exploited it unintentionally and not part of any agreement. So, you know, we have to work on that [with] Starlink. You offer a commercial product by connectivity to people which is useful in conflicts, but you also want to be careful how they use it… On the other hand, they are trying to fight for their country, so I understand it. The thing is, that’s not what was intended,” Shotwell said. Starlink has reportedly supplied Ukraine with around 22,000 devices since the start of Russia’s special military operation in February last year. 10,000 Starlink antennas were going to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months and that EU countries were going to help Ukraine pay for Starlink services. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said earlier in 2022 that he was considering ending his donation of Starlink services to Ukraine because it was becoming too expensive to maintain, but Musk then decided to continue providing Starlink services to Ukraine.
https://sputniknews.com/20230121/elon-musk-relentless-escalation-in-ukraine-crisis-very-risky-for-kiev-entire-world-1106542086.html
Ukraine
2023
News
en_GB
spacex, ukraine, drones, starlink
spacex, ukraine, drones, starlink
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Elon Musk’s space company, SpaceX, has taken steps to prevent Ukraine’s armed forces from using the Starlink satellite constellation to control and target drones because the technology was “never intended to be militarized,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer. of SpaceX, said Wednesday.
“We were really excited to be able to provide connectivity to Ukraine and help them in their…fight for freedom. However, it was never intended to be weaponized,” Shotwell reportedly said during the 25th FAA’s annual commercial space transportation conference in Washington.
The president did not specify the exact use the Ukrainian military has made of Starlink to “weaponize” the constellation of satellites. However, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said earlier that it was training companies of drone operators equipped with Starlink satellite communications, drones and ammunition to target Russian forces.
“The Ukrainians exploited it unintentionally and not part of any agreement. So, you know, we have to work on that [with] Starlink. You offer a commercial product by connectivity to people which is useful in conflicts, but you also want to be careful how they use it… On the other hand, they are trying to fight for their country, so I understand it. The thing is, that’s not what was planned,” Shotwell said.
Starlink has reportedly supplied Ukraine with around 22,000 devices since the start of Russia’s special military operation in February last year.
In December, US media reported, quoting a Ukrainian defense official, that more than 10,000 Starlink antennas would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months and that EU countries would help Ukraine pay for Starlink services.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said earlier in 2022 that he was considering ending his Starlink service donation to Ukraine because it was getting too expensive to maintain. However, Musk then decided to continue providing Starlink services to Ukraine.
sputniknews Gt
