Elon Musk said his Starlink satellite service is up and running in Ukraine, responding to a plea from the deputy prime minister to supply satellite-based communications to help resist Russia’s invasion of the country.
Musk’s SpaceX plans to take thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit, creating an internet-service constellation that would work as a low-cost alternative to remote land-based systems that are vulnerable to interruption. The billionaire previously donated 50 satellite terminals to restore the internet in Tonga, whose telecommunications network was severely disrupted by a tsunami this year.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California on Friday with a payload of another 50 satellites.
Musk’s SpaceX plans to take thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit, creating an internet-service constellation that would work as a low-cost alternative to remote land-based systems that are vulnerable to interruption. The billionaire previously donated 50 satellite terminals to restore the internet in Tonga, whose telecommunications network was severely disrupted by a tsunami this year.
Elon Musk said his Starlink satellite service is up and running in Ukraine, responding to a plea from the deputy prime minister to supply satellite-based communications to help resist Russia’s invasion of the country.
Elon Musk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people Fedora, also the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, tweet “We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address same Russians to stand.”
Russia’s full-fledged war on Ukraine began Wednesday when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation.”
Starlink satellites increase broadband service in parts of the world and could provide data links to areas of Ukraine that have lost internet access.
Musk’s SpaceX plans to take thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit, creating an internet-service constellation that would work as a low-cost alternative to remote land-based systems that are vulnerable to interruption. The billionaire previously donated 50 satellite terminals to restore the internet in Tonga, whose telecommunications network was severely disrupted by a tsunami this year.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California on Friday with a payload of another 50 satellites.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Musk tweeted about 10 hours after the call for help. “More terminal en route.”
The response came after Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister asked for the controversial business magnate for Starlink stations.
Musk has via SpaceX launched thousands of Starlink satellites into Earth’s orbit, increasing broadband service in parts of the world.
The satellites help carry large amounts of information rapidly to any point on Earth, avoiding the need for fiber-optical cables.
The satellites could provide data links to areas of Ukraine that have lost internet access during the war. Russia’s assaults on cities across Ukraine have left parts of the country with internet outages.
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has activated Starlink, his commercial internet network, in Ukraine, with "more terminals en route".
"Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route," Musk wrote on Twitter.
According to Politico, Musk's SpaceX has thousands of Starlink satellites in orbit, which allow the company to beam broadband services around Earth, without the need for fiber-optic cables.
The satellites could keep Ukraine online if its internet infrastructure is damaged by Russia's attacks, the report said.
Musk's move came in response to a plea by Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, who called for help on Saturday, as Ukraine fought off an invasion and sustained cyberattacks by Russian forces.
"While you try to colonise Mars -- Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space -- Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand," tweeting directly to Musk, Fedorov said.
A recent report said that Musk's Starlink project is an ambitious attempt to install a grid of satellites in the Earth's orbit to provide internet access across the globe.
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