After the tyrannical Iranian regime turned off the internet in Iran — effectively preventing the Iranian people from knowing the damage caused to the regime by Israel’s military strikes and thus emboldening them to challenge the regime — free speech advocate Elon Musk confirmed he had turned on Starlink, allowing the Iranian people access to the Internet.
Musk responded to Fox News host and radio host Mark Levin, who noted, “Elon Musk can put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime by providing Star link internet to the Iranian people! Iran cut off all internet so that the people cannot organize a coup and communicate.”
“The beams are on,” Musk succinctly responded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The beams are on
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1933727111485026581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Iranian dissidents have cheered the Israeli strikes on Iran and criticized the regime for its war with Israel. Iranian scholar and filmmaker Faezeh Alavi, who saw her event “From Conflict to Connection: Israelis and Iranians in Dialogue,” at King&#8217;s College canceled in February after anti-Israel activists protested, responded to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu saying to the Iranian people, “Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years” by posting on X: “Bibi is spot on. We are sharing the same enemy. The Islamic Republic&#8217;s nuclear program must be stopped; otherwise, a nuclear war would start by this regime soon, and Iranian people would lose ANY chance of freeing Iran. Many world leaders also owe Israel for protecting them from this threat.”
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Bibi is spot on. We are sharing the same enemy.
The Islamic Republic&#39;s nuclear program must be stopped; otherwise, a nuclear war would start by this regime soon, and Iranian people would lose ANY chance of freeing Iran.
Many world leaders also owe Israel for protecting them… <a href="https://t.co/MMNPIKGzax">pic.twitter.com/MMNPIKGzax</a>
&mdash; Faezeh Alavi (@SFaeze_Alavi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFaeze_Alavi/status/1933330701371273390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“Only the deaths of Khamenei, his son Mojtaba, and Pazakhian will shorten the path to victory over the despotic regime of the jihadists in Tehran. After that, there will be no alternative leadership left — not even within the Revolutionary Guards. Otherwise, Iranians and Israelis are in for a very long period of suffering,” Professor Afshin Ellian wrote.
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רק מותם של ח&#39;אמנאי, בנו מוג&#39;תבא ופזשכיאן יקצר את הדרך לניצחון על המשטר הדספוטי של הג&#39;יהאדיסטים בטהראן. לאחר מכן לא תישאר שום הנהגה חלופית — אפילו לא בתוך משמרות המהפכה. אחרת, צפויה לאיראנים ולישראלים תקופה מאוד ארוכה של סבל.
&mdash; Afshin Ellian (@AfshinEllian1) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfshinEllian1/status/1934195470827426065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi <a href="https://www.jns.org/iranian-opposition-calls-to-overthrow-the-mullahs/">urged</a> Iranians “to overthrow the Islamic Republic through street protests and nationwide strikes,” adding, “Ali Khamenei, the foolish leader of the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic, has once again embroiled Iran in a war; a war that is not [against] Iran and the Iranian nation, but [against] the Islamic Republic and Khamenei.”
Famed Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad wrote on X, “The Islamic Republic&#8217;s insistence on continuing confrontation with Israel is based on illusions, ideological slogans, and unrealistic calculations, and it has no result other than the destruction of our Iran. A disaster whose costs will not only be political, but also human and security. And what&#8217;s even more bitter is that these costs will be paid with the lives of people who have no role or authority in these decision-making. How long will the Iranian people have to pay the price for a war that was neither their choice nor their benefit?”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
اصرار جمهوری اسلامی بر تداوم تقابل‌جویانه با اسرائیل، بر اساس توهمات و‌ شعارهای ایدئولوژیک و محاسبات غیرواقع‌بینانه است و بس و هیچ نتیجه‌ای ندارد جز ویرانی ایران ما.
فاجعه‌ای که هزینه‌های آن نه صرفاً سیاسی، بلکه انسانی و امنیتی خواهد بود. و نکته‌ی تلخ‌تر آن‌که، این هزینه‌ها از… <a href="https://t.co/6EmVZz84pn">pic.twitter.com/6EmVZz84pn</a>
&mdash; Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1934045733138698438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Elon Musk

‘The Beams Are On’: Iran Axes Internet, Musk Turns On Starlink To Allow Iranian Dissidents Access

'The Beams Are On': Iran Axes Internet, Musk Turns On Starlink To Allow Iranian Dissidents Access

Internet

Iran

Mark Levin

Starlink

On Sunday, Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio put on a united front as they confronted a Polish official who suggested Ukraine may need to find an alternative to Musk&#8217;s Starlink satellite company for communications assistance in its war against Russia.
The New York Times recently <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/politics/trump-musk-doge-power.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Musk and Rubio clashed over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort that Musk is overseeing, but there were no signs of animosity between them on Sunday as they teamed up against Poland&#8217;s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, when he took aim at Starlink.
In a post on X, Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1898608186858373428" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advocated</a> for sanctions against Ukrainian oligarchs as a means to end the war, underscoring concerns about corruption in the country where tens of billions of dollars of U.S. aid has been allocated over the past couple of years. He then responded to a commenter who <a href="https://x.com/AdamLowisz/status/1898608986737234312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Musk should stop &#8220;pretending&#8221; that Russia&#8217;s Vladimir Putin is not &#8220;the aggressor&#8221; in the conflict.
&#8220;I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off,&#8221; Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1898612062533956047" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a reply. &#8220;What I am sickened by is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose. Anyone who really cares, really thinks and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop. PEACE NOW!!&#8221;
Sikorski issued a response that mentioned one of Musk&#8217;s other companies, SpaceX, that has been used to launch Starlink satellites into space.
&#8220;Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year, Sikorski <a href="https://x.com/sikorskiradek/status/1898700362460070080" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.&#8221; The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers.&#8221;
Rubio interjected from his verified government account, taking a cue from Vice President JD Vance telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last month that he should be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;thanking&#8221;</a> President Donald Trump for trying to get Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace deal.
&#8220;Just making things up. No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink,&#8221; Rubio <a href="https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1898755922492588082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> to Sikorski. &#8220;And say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.&#8221;
Sikorski later <a href="https://x.com/sikorskiradek/status/1898770943448600607" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a>: &#8220;Thank you, Marco, for confirming that the brave soldiers of Ukraine can count on the vital internet service provided jointly by [the United States] and [Poland]. Together, Europe and the United States can help [Ukraine] to achieve a just peace.&#8221;
Musk issued a couple of replies. To Rubio, he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1898756974512156951" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;What Secretary Rubio says is absolutely correct.&#8221; And to Sikorski, he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1898759859459203457" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.&#8221;

Marco Rubio and Elon Musk in White House with President Donald Trump

Elon And Rubio Tag-Team Polish Official’s Starlink Critique

Marco Rubio

U.S.

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ivanka-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ivanka Trump</a> and the Love and Light Foundation delivered Starlink terminals to flood-ravaged areas of North Carolina after southeastern states were devastated by Hurricane Helene.
In a post on Wednesday on <a href="https://x.com/Unitedcajunnavy/status/1841493597679472973" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a>, the United Cajun Navy-Search &amp; Rescue, Disaster Response &amp; Recovery posted a clip showing hundreds of boxes of the equipment that had been flown in allowing for high-speed internet for victims of the hurricane in remote areas. Starlink provides satellite internet service from Space X, which was founded by Tesla CEO <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk</a>.
“YUGE shout out to @IvankaTrump and the Love and Light Foundation for flying in 300 STARLINK units for the #helene victims of the #NorthCarolinaFlood. #unitedisstrength #unitedcajunnavy #CajunNavy #Helene,” the United Cajun Navy’s post read.
In another post on X, Starlink said it was providing “free service for 30 days in regions affected by Hurricane Helene,” with a link about how the program worked.
“Starlink aims to enable anyone impacted by a natural disaster to be able to access internet connectivity,” the <a href="https://www.starlink.com/support/article/58126733-e4d2-db62-b919-9da261a4e096">linked website</a> read. “For those in areas that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, Starlink is available and temporarily offering free service for the first month.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
YUGE shout out to <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IvankaTrump</a> and the Love and Light Foundation for flying in 300 STARLINK units for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/helene?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#helene</a> victims of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthCarolinaFlood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthCarolinaFlood</a> ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unitedisstrength?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#unitedisstrength</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unitedcajunnavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#unitedcajunnavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CajunNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CajunNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Helene?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Helene</a> <a href="https://t.co/H6QPX9OPHu">pic.twitter.com/H6QPX9OPHu</a>
— United Cajun Navy (@Unitedcajunnavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Unitedcajunnavy/status/1841493597679472973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
“If you are impacted by Hurricane Helene, or are looking to enable rapid assistance for responding to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, and need to access this 30 day free service option, please follow the steps below,” it added.
<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1841532500054532526">Musk</a> also posted on social media and wrote, “Starlink terminals will now work automatically without need for payment in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene.”
At least <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hurricane-helene-death-toll-approaches-180-as-hundreds-still-missing">180 people</a> across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia have already been confirmed dead in the wake of the hurricane, with the death toll expected to rise. Millions were left without power, internet access, and cell phone service.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
On Monday, former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Donald Trump</a> traveled to the area and said he’d spoken to Musk about getting Starlink in there to help.
A spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s administration then hit back and said that FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] had already planned for Starlink deliveries, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/elon-musk-starlink-brings-internet-politics-hurricane-helene-recovery-rcna173463">NBC</a> noted.
On Tuesday on <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1840987806388179258">X</a>, Musk wrote, “Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need. Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hurricane-helene-death-toll-approaches-180-as-hundreds-still-missing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Helene Death Toll Approaches 180 As Hundreds Still Missing</a>

Hurricane Helene Damage

Ivanka Trump Delivers Starlink Terminals To Flood-Ravaged North Carolina

Donald Trump

Hurricane Helene

Ivanka Trump

Natural Disaster

North Carolina

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that he&#8217;s providing free internet through his product Starlink to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
At least <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hurricane-helene-death-toll-approaches-180-as-hundreds-still-missing">180 people</a> across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia have already been confirmed dead in the wake of the hurricane, with the death total expected to rise. Millions were left without power, internet access, and cell phone service.
&#8220;We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment,&#8221; Musk announced on X, a social media platform he now owns. &#8220;Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment.
Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest. <a href="https://t.co/RcSwU54DtL">https://t.co/RcSwU54DtL</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1841207137420132549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
Communities across the southeast are facing increased challenges due to limited internet access. Many survivors have said they are having a hard time getting in contact with their loved ones.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday visited Georgia, one of the hardest-hit states in the area. Meeting with volunteers, Trump <a href="https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1840815975740162188?_nlid=fuKBsFg5at&amp;_nhids=QoY8uA6G">said</a> he was working with Musk to get Starlink to those in need.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
 &#8220;I just spoke to Elon,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever and Elon will always come through — we know that, so we&#8217;re working on that.&#8221;
On Tuesday, Musk wrote online, &#8220;Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need. Earlier today, [Donald Trump] alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need.
Earlier today, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1840987806388179258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
“Great news,&#8221; Trump responded on TruthSocial. &#8220;So badly needed in North Carolina, where there is virtually no communication. Starlink was the perfect answer, and Elon Musk, as usual, came through. Thank you Elon!!!&#8221;
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden was at his home in Delaware but made it back to the White House on Monday to give a press conference on federal relief efforts. He told survivors he’d “be there” with them “as long as it takes.” Biden will reportedly visit North Carolina on Wednesday. 
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats&#8217; nominee, held a rally in Las Vegas over the weekend and departed on Monday morning to Washington, D.C., for a <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4906743-hurricane-helene-vice-president-kamala-harris/">briefing</a> from FEMA. 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musks-reacts-to-theater-pulling-am-i-racist-far-left-fascists-love-censorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk Reacts To Theater Pulling ‘Am I Racist?’: ‘Far Left Fascists Love Censorship’</a>

10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

Elon Musk Providing Free Internet With Starlink To Hurricane-Affected Areas

Elon Musk Providing Free Internet With Starlink To Hurricane Helene-Affected Areas

Politics

Severe Weather

Former President Donald Trump said on Monday that he spoke with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk about getting Starlink set up in areas impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Trump made the remarks about the efforts from Musk, who is Trump&#8217;s most powerful political ally, during an event in Valdosta, Georgia.
&#8220;Homes, hospitals, highways, and cars have been plunged under water,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Entire neighborhoods have been turned into lakes. Nobody&#8217;s seen anything like it. And every family that&#8217;s been displaced here in Georgia and North Carolina, which has really been hit, we&#8217;re going there also. They don&#8217;t have communication, they don&#8217;t have anything right now.&#8221;
&#8220;I just spoke to Elon,&#8221; Trump continued, &#8220;I&#8217;m getting him, we want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through, and we know that. And so we&#8217;re working on that, getting them hooked up, they asked me whether or not that would be possible. We&#8217;re going to try and get the Starlink in there as soon as possible because they have no communication.&#8221;
&#8220;And throughout the region, our hearts are with you, and we are going to be with you as long as you need it,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s called an hour of need. You&#8217;re in our prayers, and we pray to God. And throughout this long weeks, the long weeks that lay ahead, you&#8217;re going to have a lot of work, but the end result is it&#8217;s going to be good. We just wish so many people weren&#8217;t so badly hurt and in many cases, sadly, no longer with us. We love you.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨President Trump says that he spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> about getting Starlink set up for the hurricane victims who have lost communication. <a href="https://t.co/2BEDyPzblZ">pic.twitter.com/2BEDyPzblZ</a>
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1840815975740162188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>

Donald Trump Visits Areas Affected By Hurricane Helene In Georgia

Trump Says Musk Providing Starlink To Areas Impacted By Hurricane

Hurricane

Author Walter Isaacson corrected a media narrative that exploded late last week after an excerpt of his forthcoming book &#8220;Elon Musk&#8221; mischaracterized events that surrounded SpaceX CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s donation of Starlink’s satellite communications to the Ukrainian military.
The Washington Post published an excerpt from the book that claimed that Musk personally shut down Ukraine&#8217;s Starlink from working in order to stop a major attack that the country was planning against the Russian Navy.
Mediaite <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/print/walter-isaacson-corrects-reporting-on-elon-musk-cutting-ukrainian-militarys-access-to-starlink/">highlighted</a> an excerpt from The Washington Post&#8217;s original article, which has now been corrected:
<blockquote>Throughout the evening and into the night, he personally took charge of the situation. Allowing the use of Starlink for the attack, he concluded, could be a disaster for the world. So he secretly told his engineers to turn off coverage within 100 kilometers of the Crimean coast. As a result, when the Ukrainian drone subs got near the Russian fleet in Sevastopol, they lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly.
When the Ukrainian military noticed that Starlink was disabled in and around Crimea, Musk got frantic calls and texts asking him to turn the coverage back on. Fedorov, the deputy prime minister who had originally enlisted his help, secretly shared with him the details of how the drone subs were crucial to their fight for freedom. “We made the sea drones ourselves, they can destroy any cruiser or submarine,” he texted using an encrypted app. “I did not share this information with anyone. I just want you — the person who is changing the world through technology — to know this.”</blockquote>
The excerpt spawned intense attacks in the media against Musk over the weekend and a correction was later issued in The Washington Post and by Isaacson on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter that Musk purchased last year.
&#8220;After publication of this adaptation, the author learned that his book mischaracterized the attempted attack by Ukrainian drones on the Russian fleet in Crimea,&#8221; The Washington Post&#8217;s correction said. &#8220;Musk had already disabled (&#8216;geofenced&#8217;) coverage within 100 km of the Crimean coast before the attack began, and when the Ukrainians discovered this, they asked him to activate the coverage, and he refused. This version reflects that change.&#8221;
Isaacson wrote on X: &#8220;To clarify on the Starlink issue: the Ukrainians THOUGHT coverage was enabled all the way to Crimea, but it was not. They asked Musk to enable it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet. Musk did not enable it, because he thought, probably correctly, that would cause a major war.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
To clarify on the Starlink issue: the Ukrainians THOUGHT coverage was enabled all the way to Crimea, but it was not. They asked Musk to enable it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet. Musk did not enable it, because he thought, probably correctly, that would cause a…
&mdash; Walter Isaacson (@WalterIsaacson) <a href="https://twitter.com/WalterIsaacson/status/1700342242290901361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In a subsequent post, Isaacson admitted that he &#8220;mistakenly thought the policy to not allow Starlink to be used for an attack on Crimea had been first decided on the night of the Ukrainian attempted sneak attack that night.&#8221;
&#8220;He now says that the policy had been implemented earlier, but the Ukrainians did not know it, and that night he simply reaffirmed the policy,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hi, Tim. Based on my conversations with Musk, I mistakenly thought the policy to not allow Starlink to be used for an attack on Crimea had been first decided on the night of the Ukrainian attempted sneak attack that night.  He now says that the policy had been implemented…
&mdash; Walter Isaacson (@WalterIsaacson) <a href="https://twitter.com/WalterIsaacson/status/1700522506363248665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Author Corrects Reporting On Elon Musk Cutting Ukraine’s Access To Starlink

When former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, the identical twin of Arizona Democrat senator Mark Kelly, tried to get SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to let Ukraine use SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service for use by the country’s military, Musk rebuffed the attempt.
Last September, Musk stated, “Starlink is meant for peaceful use only.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Starlink is meant for peaceful use only
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1570952805833379840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On January 31, Musk <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1620536119522922497" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>, “SpaceX Starlink has become the connectivity backbone of Ukraine all the way up to the front lines. This is the damned if you do part. However, we are not allowing Starlink to be used for long-range drone strikes. This is the damned if you don’t part.” Last week, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/spacex-starlink-ukraine-drones-russia-b2278965.html?r=86785" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubled down</a> in the wake of reports that Ukraine’s military had used Starlink to control drones.
Starlink, which was permitted to be used by Ukraine for broadband internet for hospitals, banks, and families affected by Russia’s invasion, was “never never meant to be weaponized,” Shotwell said, adding, “However, Ukrainians have leveraged it in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement. &#8230; There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that. There are things that we can do, and have done.”
That prompted Mykailo Podolyak, senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, to respond, “A year of [Ukrainian] resistance &amp; companies have to decide: Either they are on the side of [Ukraine] &amp; the right to freedom, and don’t seek ways to do harm. Or they are on RF’s side &amp; its ‘right’ to kill &amp; seize territories. SpaceX (Starlink) and Mrs Shotwell should choose a specific option.”
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A year of 🇺🇦 resistance &amp; companies have to decide: -Either they are on the side of 🇺🇦 &amp; the right to freedom, and don’t seek ways to do harm. -Or they are on RF’s side &amp; its &quot;right&quot; to kill &amp; seize territories.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpaceX</a> (Starlink) &amp; Mrs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shotwell?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shotwell</a> should choose a specific option
&mdash; Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) <a href="https://twitter.com/Podolyak_M/status/1623620350259888130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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But on Saturday, Kelly tweeted at Musk, “Ukraine desperately needs your continued support. Please restore the full functionality of your Starlink satellites. Defense from a genocidal invasion is not an offensive capability. It’s survival. Innocent lives will be lost. You can help. Thank you.”
“You’re smart enough not to swallow media and other propaganda bs,” Musk responded. “Starlink is the communication backbone for Ukraine, especially at the front lines, where almost all other internet connectivity has been destroyed. But we will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3.”
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You’re smart enough not to swallow media &amp; other propaganda bs.
Starlink is the communication backbone of Ukraine, especially at the front lines, where almost all other Internet connectivity has been destroyed.
But we will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1624876021433368578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Last October, Lt. Gen. John Shaw, deputy commander of the U.S. Space Command, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/28/space-war-ukraine-pentagon-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>, “I am certain that my counterpart in Russia, whoever that is, is not very happy with Starlink, as it’s assisting Ukraine. And with commercial imagery, such as Maxar’s products, that are plastering all over the world news the things that are going on, I don’t think they’re very happy about that either. And we know that they’re probably going to take steps to try to stop those commercial services because they run counter to Russia’s national interest.”
Soon after, Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s department for nonproliferation and arms, warned that privately operated satellites were “an extremely dangerous trend that goes beyond the harmless use of outer-space technologies and has become apparent during the latest developments in Ukraine,” and that “quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation.”

The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” – Arrivals

Elon Musk Warns Of ‘World War 3,’ Balks At Ukraine Using Starlink For Its Military

Russia

World

SpaceX launched 54 Starlink satellites into orbit early Wednesday in a record 60th launch for 2022.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried the upgraded Gen2 versions of the satellites during a 4:34 a.m. Eastern Time launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
&#8220;Under our new license, we are now able to deploy satellites to new orbits that will add even more capacity to the network,&#8221; Jesse Anderson, SpaceX production and engineering manager, <a href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-5-1-group-launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during the live stream of the launch. &#8220;Ultimately, this enables us to add more customers and provide faster service, particularly in areas that are currently oversubscribed.&#8221;
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Watch Falcon 9 launch 54 Starlink satellites to orbit → <a href="https://t.co/wGq3KkoDyY">https://t.co/wGq3KkoDyY</a> <a href="https://t.co/sHdWRcsqZV">https://t.co/sHdWRcsqZV</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1608032463124860928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Falcon 9’s first stage rocket successfully landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission was the 60th of 2022, a new record for SpaceX. The company notes 197 total <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/">launches</a>.
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The mission marked the eleventh launch and landing for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, and now six Starlink missions, <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl5-1-pl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the mission description.
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The launch marked the first of Starlink’s upgraded network, called the Gen2. The new devices can now deploy satellites to new orbits that will add even more capacity to the Starlink network.
&#8220;Ultimately, this enables us to add more customers and provide faster service – particularly in areas that are currently over-subscribed,&#8221; the description noted.
</div>
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Falcon 9 launches 54 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit; completes SpaceX’s 60th mission of 2022! <a href="https://t.co/MIstToPIyL">pic.twitter.com/MIstToPIyL</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1608050353131642880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On December 1, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) <a href="https://www.space.com/spacex-fcc-approval-7500-starlink-satellites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> SpaceX to deploy up to 7,500 Gen2 satellites. SpaceX has also applied to eventually add a total of almost 30,000 satellites into orbit.
Starlink seeks to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in remote and rural locations worldwide. The company made global headlines earlier this year when Musk provided Starlink services to Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia in February. The assistance has offered critical communications help to Ukrainians following attacks on the nation&#8217;s power grid.
Starlink also provided internet satellite kits in Florida following Hurricane Ian.
&#8220;They&#8217;ve donated the cost associated with all of the coverage, so we want to thank SpaceX and thank Elon Musk for that. A large device, you can put it different areas in the community that are having problems and they can get a 13-mile radius and they can support over 1,000 users at a given time,&#8221; Gov. DeSantis (R-FL) <a href="https://www.wptv.com/weather/hurricane/gov-ron-desantis-hurricane-ian-update-10-1-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in October.
In addition to Starlink launches, SpaceX has been involved in a variety of other international projects, including the launch of Japan’s first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spacex-prepares-to-launch-first-private-japanese-mission-to-moon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">privately-led mission</a> to the moon.
The ispace HAKUTO-R Mission 1 launched earlier this month from Florida. The Mission 1 lander is making its four-month journey ahead of Japan’s first unmanned lunar landing. Only the U.S., the former Soviet Union, and China have successfully conducted a soft landing on the moon’s surface.
The mission is expected to land on the moon’s surface near the end of April 2023.

SpaceX

SpaceX Launches Record 60th Flight Of The Year

Air and Space

NASA

Space

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/spacex">SpaceX</a> Falcon 9 rocket conducted its record-setting 15th mission on Saturday, further extending the company&#8217;s record for reusable rocket missions.
The launch of Falcon 9 included 54 Starlink internet satellites that lifted off from NASA&#8217;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Saturday afternoon.
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Liftoff! <a href="https://t.co/nOImtbIbpr">pic.twitter.com/nOImtbIbpr</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1604228215718834176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The rocket&#8217;s booster returned to Earth about nine minutes after liftoff, landing aboard a SpaceX droneship off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.
&#8220;Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, completing the 15th launch and landing of this booster!&#8221; SpaceX tweeted.
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Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, completing the 15th launch and landing of this booster! <a href="https://t.co/0AXCXTSPRb">pic.twitter.com/0AXCXTSPRb</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1604231025311129600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Over four dozen Starlink satellites were released into orbit about 15 minutes after launch. SpaceX leader Elon Musk stated that the successful mission marked three perfect orbital launches in 36 hours.
Starlink has more than 3,500 satellites in orbit to date, with plans to add up to 30,000 total. The launch was also part of a busy period that experienced three SpaceX launches in less than three days.
&#8220;Congrats to SpaceX Team on 3 perfect orbital launches within 36 hours!!!&#8221; Musk tweeted.
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Congrats to SpaceX Team on 3 perfect orbital launches within 36 hours!!!
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1604234568814546945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On Friday, Falcon 9 launched NASA&#8217;s SWOT water-watching satellite from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission to low-Earth orbit is &#8220;an internationally developed mission to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface water,&#8221; <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=SWOT-pl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the mission description from SpaceX.
&#8220;It aims to provide a new understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change and improve the data humanity relies upon for fresh water management,&#8221; it added.
The SWOT satellite will undergo calibration and testing with plans to start collecting data in about six months in its mission to measure the world&#8217;s bodies of water.
“Warming seas, extreme weather, more severe wildfires – these are only some of the consequences humanity is facing due to climate change,” <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-launches-international-mission-to-survey-earth-s-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The climate crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and SWOT is the realization of a long-standing international partnership that will ultimately better equip communities so that they can face these challenges.”
A Friday mission from Cape Canaveral also sent two European telecom satellites into orbit.
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Watch Falcon 9 launch the <a href="https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SES_Satellites</a> O3b mPOWER mission to orbit → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK">https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK</a> <a href="https://t.co/SqeA1SSTsu">https://t.co/SqeA1SSTsu</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1603881621706244096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The continued efforts by Starlink seek to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in remote and rural locations worldwide. The company made global headlines earlier this year when Musk provided Starlink services to Ukraine after the nation was invaded by Russia.
Two days after the Kremlin&#8217;s invasion began, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Mykhailo Fedorov called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to provide Starlink internet service to Ukraine.
“@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! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand,” Fedorov tweeted.
Hours later, Musk personally responded to the request.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” Musk wrote.
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Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1497701484003213317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-russia-missile-strikes-hit-key-ukrainian-television-tower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, Musk also made Starlink services available in Iran after protests led to its government blocking the internet in September.

SpaceX Launches Record-Setting Mission, Sends 54 Starlink Satellites Into Orbit

Science

U.S. officials appear to have reversed course on not paying SpaceX for its Starlink satellites over Ukraine, which have provided the country a military advantage as it battles Russian forces, and now the company&#8217;s CEO is suggesting that it does not want to be paid, even though it recently demanded payment.
CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/13/politics/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-ukraine/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Thursday that the charitable contributions from SpaceX were likely coming to end after the company warned the Department of Defense in that it needed to start paying tens of millions of dollars per month to keep the terminals up and running.
The report said that a September letter from SpaceX asked the Pentagon to pay for Ukraine’s government to continue using the system which would cost “more than $120 million for the rest of the year and could cost close to $400 million for the next 12 months.”
SpaceX’s director of government sales wrote to the Pentagon, “We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time.”
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk backtracked over the weekend on the company demanding payment for its services.
“The hell with it,” Musk <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-hell-with-it-elon-musk-reverses-course-on-starlink-decision-in-ukraine">said</a>, “even though Starlink is still losing money &amp; other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.”
Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/17/pentagon-starlink-funding-ukraine-00062103" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Monday that U.S. officials with knowledge of the situation said that the Department of Defense wanted to pay for the satellites to continue operating over Ukraine because the U.S. did not like Musk&#8217;s unpredictability. Funding for the effort would likely come out of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative which has been used to purchase things needed for the country&#8217;s war effort.
European officials are now also getting involved in discussions on funding Starlink as Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-consider-pay-elon-musk-starlink-spacex-internet-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Politico Europe that the ability of Ukraine&#8217;s military to operate via satellite should not be determined by one &#8220;super-powerful&#8221; person who could just randomly decide one day to shut off Ukraine&#8217;s internet access.
“I figured that it&#8217;s probably way better to have this as a contractual agreement between, let&#8217;s say, a coalition of countries that could purchase a service from Mr. Musk, the Starlink service, and provide it to the Ukrainians and keep on providing it to Ukrainians,” Landsbergis said.
Musk responded to the Politico report by appearing to suggest that he did not want to be paid for the satellite&#8217;s service.
&#8220;SpaceX has already withdrawn its request for funding,&#8221; Musk said. &#8220;To be precise, 25,300 terminals were sent to Ukraine, but, at present, only 10,630 are paying for service.&#8221;
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To be precise, 25,300 terminals were sent to Ukraine, but, at present, only 10,630 are paying for service
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1582098412501364736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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NORWAY-INDUSTRY-BUSINESS-ENERGY-OIL-GAS

Pentagon Appears To Reverse Course On Paying Musk For Starlink In Ukraine, Musk Also Appears To Shift

Pentagon

Elon Musk announced he is activating Starlink satellite internet service in Iran after the nation cut off communications during recent protests.
Musk made the news public on Friday following a policy change by the Treasury Department earlier the same day, allowing companies to provide online services to Iran after the government&#8217;s crackdown.
&#8220;We took action today to advance Internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people, issuing a General License to provide them greater access to digital communications to counter the Iranian government’s censorship,&#8221; Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Friday.
&#8220;Activating Starlink&#8230;&#8221; Musk replied.
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Activating Starlink …
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1573379244268437504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo also noted that the new move by the U.S. government would increase options for internet communications for the Iranian people.
“As courageous Iranians take to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, the United States is redoubling its support for the free flow of information to the Iranian people,” Adeyemo said in a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-expands-sanctions-exceptions-help-provide-internet-iranians-2022-09-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to Reuters.
&#8220;With these changes, we are helping the Iranian people be better equipped to counter the government’s efforts to surveil and censor them,&#8221; he added.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX led by Musk, offers low-orbit satellite internet services to people in places without traditional mobile telecommunications access. Musk previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukraine-receives-more-equipment-from-elon-musk-musk-responds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provided support</a> featuring Starlink service to Ukraine following Russia&#8217;s invasion of the nation in February.
Ukraine announced at the end of February that it had received the first shipment of Starlink terminals from Musk after a government official from Ukraine had appealed to Musk on Twitter, writing: “@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! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
Musk responded: “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.”
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Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1497701484003213317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The recent protests in Iran have increased following the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini. She died days after being arrested following allegations of improperly wearing a hijab, the traditional Islamic headscarf required for women in Iran.
Iranian governmental officials claim Amini died from a heart attack. However, her family members have stated she was badly beaten by authorities.
The protests have led to arrests after many women have burned their hijabs in public, with some cutting their hair in opposition to the government&#8217;s actions. At least a dozen people have been reportedly killed in police crackdowns on the protesters.
On Thursday, the Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/22/iran-blocks-capitals-internet-access-as-amini-protests-grow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Iran had shut down internet communications in parts of the capital of Tehran and in Kurdistan. The government also reportedly blocked social media apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp.
BBC News <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62996100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that the internet blackouts have largely resulted from Iran&#8217;s largest mobile phone operator being offline. Iran Mobile Communications Company, with more than 60 million users, has reportedly been the focus of the government&#8217;s censorship.

Iran protest

Elon Musk Announces He’s Activating Starlink Internet In Iran Amid Protests

Social Media Censorship

SpaceX launched 54 Starlink satellites into orbit on Sunday evening following five days of weather delays.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellites into low Earth orbit, releasing them just 15.5 minutes into the flight that departed from Florida&#8217;s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
&#8220;This was the sixth launch and landing of this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, and now one Starlink mission,&#8221; SpaceX <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl4-34/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> in a description of the mission.
The Elon Musk-led company confirmed the deployment of the Starlink devices, which are designed to provide internet communications to areas outside of traditional coverage reached by mobile phone networks. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlQHF_yBkMQ">live stream</a> of the liftoff was provided online for viewers, with more than 220,000 views as of Monday morning.
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Liftoff! <a href="https://t.co/UHR1nXob8t">pic.twitter.com/UHR1nXob8t</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1571655207011995651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The Falcon 9&#8217;s first stage booster returned to the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, a floating landing pad off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship <a href="https://t.co/qXvgp8kMeH">pic.twitter.com/qXvgp8kMeH</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1571657372157763586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The private space flight company also provided a video of the satellites being released into orbit, offering multiple camera views of the launch and flight.
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Watch Falcon 9 launch 54 Starlink satellites to orbit → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc">https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc</a> <a href="https://t.co/iW2zxylKN1">https://t.co/iW2zxylKN1</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1571653665420705792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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SpaceX has now conducted 180 total launches since its start, with 118 total reflights in its pursuit of reusable rocket technology, according to its <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/">website</a>. The Sunday launch also follows a <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl4-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mission</a> on September 10 that sent 34 Starlink satellites into orbit along with the AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 satellite.
The company has now sent more than 3,200 satellites into orbit, with approval for up to 12,000 Starlink devices. Another 30,000 satellites are under consideration through an application with an international regulator, <a href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-group-4-34-launch-rocket-landing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Space.com.
The launch was also part of a recent surge in activities for SpaceX. The company ended August with an announcement that NASA had agreed to a $1.4 billion deal for five additional astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
“NASA has awarded five additional missions to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, for crew transportation services to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract,” NASA said in a <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-awards-spacex-more-crew-flights-to-space-station" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
The additional plans bring NASA’s <a href="https://www.govconwire.com/2022/09/spacex-gets-1-4b-nasa-contract-modification-for-5-more-iss-crewed-missions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">total contract value</a> with SpaceX to approximately $4.93 billion. The agreement also allows for the potential of adding additional human flight services in the future.
SpaceX and T-Mobile also announced an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musks-spacex-to-end-cellphone-dead-zones-worldwide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> last month in an effort to eliminate cellphone dead zones. Using Starlink satellites, Musk&#8217;s company plans to offer service in the half-million square miles currently unreached by networks in the United States.
“The important thing about this is that it means there are no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cell phone,” Musk tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Starlink V2, launching next year, will transmit direct to mobile phones, eliminating dead zones worldwide
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1562956451538014209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Musk added that the second-generation satellites supporting the network would launch in 2023 and said that Tesla vehicles would be able to use the service.
SpaceX has also signed a recent <a href="https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/167/royal-caribbean-group-to-use-spacexrsquos-starlink-in-an-industry-first-to-provide-high-speed-internet-onboard-full-cruise-fleet-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> with Royal Caribbean to offer Starlink internet services on cruise ships. The service is expected to roll out during the first quarter of 2023.

SpaceX Launches 54 Starlink Satellites Into Orbit Following Weather Delays

Florida

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