Wu Jun once thought that the " Starlink " system that could be used for free will be "downloaded due to arrears". Musk, founder of the American space exploration technology company (SpaceX), said recently that his company is unable to pay for the operation of the Starlink project in Ukraine. Is this really "the landlord's family has no surplus food" or is it any other intention?
SpaceX company CEO Musk
Musk said he had no money to continue sponsoring Ukraine's "Starlink"
Previously, in the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield, the "Starlink" satellite communication system played a very important role. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment when Ukraine was bombed by the Russian missile for several days, the US media suddenly exposed a very explosive news - the "Starlink" system's aid mission in Ukraine may be facing the end of .
CNN said that SpaceX, led by Musk, issued a "warning" to Pentagon last month that if the US military is unwilling to bear the company's monthly funds invested in the "Starlink" satellite communication system, will stop funding the Ukrainian side's costs of continuing to use the "Starlink" project.
According to SpaceX, the project will spend more than $120 million in in the remaining months of this year, and the spending in the next 12 months may even reach $400 million in . This is really a considerable expense. Musk also complained on his social media last week that only a small portion of the services of the Starlink project are paid for.
Musk asked the Pentagon for money
The important role of the "Starlink" satellite project in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Musk's "Starlink" satellite was used in military operations in a high-profile manner. It enabled the Ukrainian army to achieve the real-time transmission of target intelligence data , fully ensuring the combat decision-making and command and control of ground strike forces such as artillery . The Ukrainian army achieved the rapid discovery and precise attack on the Russian army's target .
First of all, "Starlink" is an important means of communication between the government, military and ordinary people in Ukraine, especially the government, military and ordinary people. From Ukrainian government departments, Ukrainian military command agencies, troops in the front line of conflict, to key infrastructure, important enterprises, and individuals, they are equipped with the "Starlink" satellite communication system. It provides necessary support for maintaining control and command between the Ukrainian front-line troops and command. "Starlink" has also become an important channel to ensure that Ukraine speaks out, obtains more intelligence and information, and even launches public opinion wars.
Secondly, "Starlink" is widely used in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the Russian-Ukrainian battlefields . , led by the United States, NATO provided the Ukrainian army with a large amount of real-time and high-value Russian military intelligence, and these important military intelligence was provided to the Ukrainian army through the "Starlink". It can be said that the "Starlink" satellite can ensure the transmission and reception of important information on Ukraine.
Finally, "Starlink" played an important role in the Ukrainian army's important combat platforms to Russia and the killing of important military personnel . For example, in the attack on the cruiser "Moscow", Starlink provided the Ukrainian army with accurate target indications and positioning, and in conjunction with the excellent performance of the missile, it ensured the success of this strike operation.
"Starlink" satellite communication system plays an important role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
"Starlink" network disconnection in the Ukrainian battlefield may be a reminder and warning
Just a week ago, the Ukrainian army complained that when the Ukrainian army was fighting with the Russian army, the "Starlink" satellite communication system had "disastrous" network disconnection in many times, and this failure even hindered the Ukrainian army from regaining the land controlled by Russia to a certain extent.
It is worth noting that shortly before the Internet was disconnected from Starlink, Musk publicly proposed the "peace plan" that made Ukraine strongly dissatisfied with the Ukraine side. These include re-referendums on the four eastern Ukrainian states: Lugansk , Donetsk , Zaporoze and Khlsson under the supervision of United Nations ; making " Crimea a part of Russia" and other suggestions.Musk himself also received strong criticism and dissatisfaction from Ukraine for this controversial remark.
combined with the time connection between the above two things and Musk's sudden unwillingness to support Ukraine for free, it can be reasonably speculated that the sudden disconnection of the "Starlink" in the Ukrainian battlefield was not a device failure, but perhaps largely due to human factors, and these failures can even be regarded as a reminder of "insufficient balance" or warning to by Musk.
Russia's space surveillance system can support anti-satellite operations
As for why Musk suddenly wanted to withdraw from this "charity plan" to aid Ukraine, there may be two reasons.
First of all, it is a fear of the Russian side . A few days ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed to the outside world that the Russian Space Force is conducting in-orbit tests against foreign satellite , which made the US side feel threatened. In addition, the Russian representative once issued a warning on UN General Assembly that those "quasi-civilian measures" that "indirectly participate in military conflicts" may be regarded as reasonable targets by the Russian side. In short, the "Starlink" that provides services to the Ukrainian army has the possibility of becoming a target of Russian attacks .
Secondly, Musk may face a crisis of financial tightness . Affected by factors such as sales failure to meet expectations, instability in supply chains and skyrocketing lithium prices, the share price of his Tras continued to plummet this year. "Starlink" is currently in the need of expansion and has not yet reached the stage of profitability. It seems that the funds invested in the Ukrainian battlefield are wasted again, so it is reasonable to be reluctant to leave.
