Elon Musk's dangerous grip on outer space
The throttling of Ukraine's Starshield highlights Elon Musk's near-monopoly on space technology and the growing threat to global security.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- SpaceX throttled Starshield in Ukraine, disabling high-speed interceptor drones used against Russian attacks.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed receiving no advance warning amid rising political tensions.
- Total market consolidation under SpaceX grants an unelected tech mogul unprecedented geopolitical leverage.
Last week, Starshield — the version of SpaceX’s Starlink used by the Ukrainian military — was throttled to block terminals traveling above certain speeds from accessing the service. The Ukrainian army’s interceptors, which counter Russian drones carrying bombs, suddenly stopped working at high speeds, making it easier for Russia to attack the country’s energy infrastructure and leading to a reported two deaths and at least 17 injuries.
The Ukrainian military reported receiving no advance warning about the Starshield speed restriction. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was a direct message from the US amid rising tensions between himself and President Donald Trump. The abrupt nature of the cutoff and its potentially dangerous military and humanitarian ramifications led to widespread public outcry focused both on Trump for pulling the rug out from under Ukraine and on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for enabling him.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Since then Musk and Trump have traded denials back and forth. Musk first said that SpaceX has no control over Starshield and decisions are made by the US military, while the White House denied taking action. Then reports emerged that Musk was the one who suggested the slowdown tactic to Trump, who then accepted it, followed by a further report that Musk himself unilaterally ordered the restrictions.
This situation underscores a profound structural vulnerability in modern defense and telecommunications. When critical infrastructure relied upon by sovereign nations during active warfare is owned and operated by private commercial entities, geopolitical outcomes can be swayed by individual corporate decisions rather than international democratic consensus.
The finger-pointing is of little interest to Ukrainians, who are focused on trying to defend their country from a brutal ongoing Russian invasion. Zelenskyy is well aware that he is being used as a scapegoat as Trump flails around attempting to blame Ukraine for the rising oil prices caused by his unpopular war with Iran.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This amount of geopolitical power being wielded by an unelected tech oligarch is the direct result of consolidating so much of the space industry into just one company, and one man’s hands. And the scope of Musk’s control goes well beyond Ukraine. From the defense of nations to the ability of NASA to launch its astronauts into space, SpaceX has been irreplaceable — and that means Musk has the space industry in his grip.
Source: The Verge
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