Russia Hints It Could Shoot Down SpaceX Starlink Satellites

Russia Hints It Could Shoot Down SpaceX Starlink Satellites

The number of satellites orbiting Earth has increased dramatically in recent years, but Russia says some of those objects could become military targets if the US and its allies don’t change course. The veiled threat doesn’t call out Elon Musk’s SpaceX by name, but Russian officials can only be referring to Starlink, which has provided connectivity in Ukraine during the Russian invasion. But is this just more saber-rattling from a country attempting to save face?

Early in the invasion, SpaceX pledged to activate Starlink service in Ukraine, and it came through. Starlink has provided an important line of communication for Ukraine, as well as helping to control military assets like drones. Attacking Starlink’s constellation is not outside Russia’s abilities, but it would be a significant escalation of tensions with the west. Russia tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile in late 2021, turning a derelict satellite into a cloud of dangerous debris. NASA and other space agencies condemned the test because of the increased danger to the International Space Station. Even small fragments can cause serious damage in orbit, which is one reason the US is seeking to ban orbital weapon tests.

According to Konstantin Vorontsov of the Russian Foreign Ministry, “quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation.” Moscow has been shamed on the world stage following its botched invasion of Ukraine, which was supposed to be a “special operation” that wrapped up in a few days. Instead, Ukraine forced Russia to abandon its siege of Kyiv and continues to push its troops back toward the border.

Russia Hints It Could Shoot Down SpaceX Starlink Satellites

Even if Russia threw caution to the wind and started picking off Starlink satellites, it’s unlikely it could do much to damage the network. There are over 2,000 of them in orbit, and every Falcon 9 launch can add up to 60 more. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has noted that it can launch new satellites faster than Russia (or anyone else) can shoot them down. And SpaceX is just the first to reach this point. The reusable Falcon 9 rocket makes it much cheaper to get satellites into orbit, but reusable launch vehicles will eventually become commonplace. This could lead to a new generation of ASAT technology, but the current method of shooting a missile at a single satellite is little more than a nuisance.

Currently, Starlink service covers a wide swath of North America and Europe, plus some areas of South America and Australia. Coverage is expected to expand dramatically in the next year or two as SpaceX begins deploying larger Starlink v2 satellites — easier to blow up? Maybe, but SpaceX will still be launching faster than anyone can shoot them down. Starlink v2 is reliant on launching the delayed Starship rocket, an orbital test of which is expected later this year.

Continue reading

Review: The Oculus Quest 2 Could Be the Tipping Point for VR Mass Adoption
Review: The Oculus Quest 2 Could Be the Tipping Point for VR Mass Adoption

The Oculus Quest 2 is now available, and it's an improvement over the original in every way that matters. And yet, it's $100 less expensive than the last release. Having spent some time with the Quest 2, I believe we might look back on it as the headset that finally made VR accessible to mainstream consumers.

Samsung, Stanford Built a 10,000 PPI Display That Could Revolutionize VR, AR
Samsung, Stanford Built a 10,000 PPI Display That Could Revolutionize VR, AR

Ask anyone who has spent more than a few minutes inside a VR headset, and they'll mention the screen door effect. This could eliminate it for good.

NASA: Asteroid Could Still Hit Earth in 2068
NASA: Asteroid Could Still Hit Earth in 2068

This skyscraper-sized asteroid might still hit Earth in 2068, according to a new analysis from the University of Hawaii and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Google Kills Free Photo Storage, Changes What Counts Toward Storage Caps
Google Kills Free Photo Storage, Changes What Counts Toward Storage Caps

Google has announced some significant changes to Photos, especially if you use the service for automatic backup.