The Starlink logo is seen on a mobile device in this illustration photo with a graphic illustration of planet Earth in Warsaw, Poland, on September 21, 2022.
STR | Nurphoto | Getty Images
SpaceX’s effort to put 22,488 more satellites into low-Earth orbit is facing a formal objection from the U.S., a Ukrainian-American nonprofit that says it is concerned about its CEO. Elon Musk’s “Relations with Russia and Alleged Use of its Starlink System by Russian Forces in Ukraine.”
In a motion to deny and stay filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Congressional Commission of America (UCCA) also cited the denial. environmental impacts SpaceX raises potential conflicts of interest in Texas and Musk over its work with the incoming Trump administration.
SpaceX’s Starlink system has been linked to Ukraine ever since the terminals arrived there In early 2022, shortly after Russian troops invaded the neighboring country. Next year, the Pentagon agreed to buy it Starlink satellite internet terminals for Ukraine’s continued defense against Russia.
However, in the year September 2023, Ukrainian-Americans lashed out at SpaceX’s CEO after learning he foiled a major attack. Russian Navy. Musk said he told his engineers not to power up SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network in Crimea to prevent a planned 2022 attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea fleet.
“It is necessary to determine whether Starlink was used to assist a foreign adversary,” UCCA President Michael Sawkiw, Jr. told CNBC regarding the group’s decision to file the request and motion with the FCC this week. “Yeah, that’s not in the national security interest of Ukrainian-Americans or the country as a whole.”
The UCCA is not the only group concerned about Musk’s relationship with the Kremlin.
The Wall Street Journal notify in October, Musk had a series of “secret conversations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Members of Congress and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson have made the call research enter those contacts.
A month before the newspaper story, Newsweek and others reported that Russia had installed Starlink terminals on the Iranian-designed Shahed drones used in the military strike in Ukraine. Starlink did not comment for the story, but Musk said earlier this year in February social media post News reports suggesting Starlink was selling terminals to Russia were “categorically false” and “to our knowledge, Starlink has not sold directly or indirectly to Russia.”
Sawkiw said his group advocates for causes of concern to the 2 million Ukrainian-Americans currently living in the U.S., many of whom arrived after the war began in February 2022.
The Starlink satellites mentioned in the order would allow the company to offer Internet services to more destinations around the world as part of its Gen2 NGSO Satellite System.
Musk did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Tim Hughes, senior vice president for global business and government affairs.
Potential conflicts of interest
If Sawkiw’s team succeeds on the legal merits, the FCC will have to suspend SpaceX’s approvals, allowing time for an environmental review and a plan to resolve conflicts of interest arising from Musk’s new role. Government Efficiency Department (THE DOG).
The DOGE is expected to function as a federal advisory board that will influence regulations, government spending and personnel. The group could potentially recommend sweeping changes at the FCC and affect oversight of SpaceX and other Musk-led companies.
“Musk’s conflicts run the gamut from financial objectivity,” UCCA wrote in the petition. “His companies benefit financially both from receiving government contracts and from actions taken by the federal government, including the FCC. Putting Musk at the helm of DOGE is the equivalent of letting a fox guard the hen house.”
The motion asks the FCC to determine how Musk will comply with the Federal Advisory Commission Act, given his role with DOGE, before allowing further requests from SpaceX.
As for the environmental concern, UCCA chief regulatory counsel Arthur Belendiuk wrote in filings with the FCC that the SpaceX launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas. “a biologically diverse and vital habitat area for many species, including wildlife protected under the Endangered Species Act.” previous incidentshe added, “launching rockets in this area creates a real risk of fire and debris being thrown into the neighboring lands that are environmentally protected”.
After reports that vibrations and noise from SpaceX launches had destroyed nine nests of an endangered bird species in the area, Musk he wrote in a message from X in July, “To make up for this horrible crime, I’m not going to eat tortillas for a week.”
Belendiuk wrote in the petition that instead of fixing the damage caused by the SpaceX launches, Musk “responds with sarcasm and mockery to the legitimate concerns of local environmental groups.”
UCCA filed comments against SpaceX in April in a separate FCC proceeding related to a request by the company to access additional spectrum for the Starlink network.
Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said at the time that the group’s comments were “procedurally improper and fundamentally without merit” and that it effectively sought to “weaponize the government’s violation of the law” against Musk.
Now, the candidate for president Donald Trump has Carr was nominated In his second administration to lead the FCC. Carr’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Belendiu told CNBC that his team’s “focus is not just on Musk or SpaceX.”
The group took legal action to remove Radio Sputnik, which broadcasts Russian government propaganda, from US public airwaves, Beledniuk said, and is “actively engaged in discussions with chipmakers who have found sanctioned products in Russian weapons systems.”
SEE: It is impossible for DOGE to reduce government spending without touching the defense budget
