Elon Musk deploys SpaceX's Starlink Internet
satellites over Ukraine after request from vice PM
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded to a request by
Ukraine's deputy prime minister to send Starlink satellites over the country.
By David
Walsh •
Updated: 27/02/2022 - 03:11
SpaceX's
Starlink satellites have now been deployed over Ukraine with more on the way,
according to the company's billionaire CEO Elon Musk, after a call for help
from the country's vice prime minister on Saturday.
Mykhailo
Fedorov, who is also Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, tweeted Musk
requesting that SpaceX switch on its Starlink broadband satellites to
supplement the country's Internet services which have been disrupted during
Russia's ongoing invasion.
“@elonmusk,
while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your
rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil
people!" Fedorov posted.
Within
hours, he had his answer. "Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More
terminals en route," Musk tweeted in reply.
Internet
connectivity has been particularly impacted in southern and eastern regions of
Ukraine where the fighting to repel the advance of Russian forces has been
heaviest.
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Fedorov
tweeted his thanks to the billionaire following the news. The country's
official Twitter account @Ukraine also acknowledged Musk's actions, tweeting
“Thanx [sic], appreciate it".
What are
Starlink satellites?
Why is this
significant? Well, Starlink satellites are able to provide broadband Internet
connections from space without the need for fibre-optic cables on Earth.
The idea behind
SpaceX's project is to give high-speed Internet access to people in the world's
most remote areas through a constellation of satellites orbiting the planet.
Having
Starlink satellites deployed above Ukraine will mean the embattled country will
continue to have Internet connectivity without the threat of the Russians
disabling it and cutting vital communications.
In order to
connect to the Internet, users need a Starlink kit - which includes a router -
and a clear view of the sky.
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SpaceX has
sent more than 2,000 satellites into space since the first 60 terminals were launched
in 2019, with plans to have as many as 42,000 satellites in the Earth's lower
orbit in the future.
The project
has not been without its detractors.
NASA in
particular has been vocal in its criticism of SpaceX's plans, arguing earlier
this month in a letter to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that
more objects in space would diminish "our planet’s ability to detect and
possibly redirect a potentially catastrophic impact".
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