In reversal, Elon Musk says SpaceX will continue funding Starlink in Ukraine
Source: CBS News
Elon Musk on Saturday announced that his company would continue to pay for Starlink satellite internet in war-torn Ukraine, a day after suggesting he cannot keep funding the project.
"The hell with it," the world's richest man wrote on Twitter. "Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free."
Musk had said on Friday that SpaceX would not be able to pay for Starlink in Ukraine indefinitely.
And the U.S. military confirmed it was communicating with the billionaire's company about funding for the key network.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-spacex-funding-starlink-ukraine/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
elleng
(131,197 posts)Who cares?
SHOULD I?
speak easy
(9,336 posts)which provide internet to military units, liberated towns, and backup for government. Ukraine has one of the most digitalized infrastructure and services provision in the world.
elleng
(131,197 posts)speak easy
(9,336 posts)The Tesla Model Q (no I don' like the guy)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217254534
elleng
(131,197 posts)mitch96
(13,929 posts)could put any further DoD spending for SpaceX in jeopardy.
With these guys it's all about the money...
m
Gore1FL
(21,158 posts)He's shown he is both capable and willing to pull the plug at any time. Who wants a service like that?
Delphinus
(11,842 posts)This is important information to refute Musk's comment (from the OP):
"The hell with it," the world's richest man wrote on Twitter. "Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free."
Musk had said on Friday that SpaceX would not be able to pay for Starlink in Ukraine indefinitely.
And the U.S. military confirmed it was communicating with the billionaire's company about funding for the key network.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Lovie777
(12,356 posts)Ukraine watch your back.
speak easy
(9,336 posts)questionseverything
(9,662 posts)chowder66
(9,087 posts)at this point. I'm glad he's helping Ukraine but I hope someone with a level head is actually doing what needs to be done.
speak easy
(9,336 posts)Ambit claims, ongoing negotiation.
mahina
(17,715 posts)Which he takes credit for constantly
chowder66
(9,087 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,364 posts)Who knew?
Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)Conjuay
(1,420 posts)trump 2.0
sinkingfeeling
(51,480 posts)SpaceX's letter to the Pentagon now gives a better look into who is funding Starlink in Ukraine. According to the letter, of the 20,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine, around 85% were funded by third-parties like countries such as the U.S. and Poland. For SpaceX's part, the company has covered about 70% of the internet connectivity costs. SpaceX says the terminals costs anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500. Additionally, Starlink's highest level of service, which is what it provides to Ukraine, costs $4,500 per month.
Of course, this would be far from the first time Musk has asked the government for money. SpaceX has received billions of dollars over the years in government subsidies, so in a way the U.S. was already paying for Starlink for Ukraine. Now, Musk's just asking for more.
https://mashable.com/article/musk-spacex-starlink-ukraine-pentagon-funding
blue-wave
(4,368 posts)SalamanderSleeps
(592 posts)SunSeeker
(51,745 posts)I wish every journalist covering Elon Musk's Starlink would mention that!
Wonder Why
(3,276 posts)of their heats" is when others are paying for it. Probably he CIA is funding it and Musk is probably overcharging them by adding "fees", "modem rental" and requiring automatic payments, online billing and binding arbitration from the CIA.
Lulu Latech
(29,098 posts)My guess is that Musk got a stern talking to by some powerful stakeholders in our government. We certainly don't need to continue to fund a loose cannon.
nycbos
(6,039 posts)... he doesn't care if he gets good press or bad press. Just as long as he gets to see his name in the news.
He follows the "there is no such thing as bad publicity" school of thought.
Maeve
(42,297 posts)But it takes direct confrontation.
I actually helped my dad skin muskrats we trapped in our pond back in the day....there was a bounty on them
Kablooie
(18,641 posts)His technical assistance is appreciated but his political advice is abhorrent.
NQAS
(10,749 posts)Somebody needs to clear this up.
Is starling units being purchased by someone or sons country? Are the spacex Services being paid for?
Given musks pro Russia stance, how c add n we be sure the Russians arent intercepting communications over starlink?
Lots of questions. Lots of muddied waters. What a vile creature.
EX500rider
(10,881 posts)blue-wave
(4,368 posts)You are correct. There have been other entities helping to pay for the system.
Hekate
(90,865 posts)While I am relieved hes changed his mind (for now) , his record of jerking large numbers of people around mitigates my sympathy and fellow-feeling.
truthisfreedom
(23,159 posts)He just sounds cranky.
Eugene
(61,965 posts)https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/14/starlink-ukraine-elon-musk-pentagon-00061896
Among other things, SpaceX is a defense contractor, and government contracts help keep the lights on. Elon just bit the hand that feeds him.
ShepKat
(383 posts)he sweeps that kind of money off the floor. HAHA nah...
he pays people to sweep money like that off the floor. There, I fixed it.
Karma13612
(4,555 posts)All I can say is, how did a business person EVER become so successful as Elon by being so unreliable and capricious???
He keeps pulling this crap and thinks people wont eventually catch on. If I were potentially going to do business with this little $hit, Id walk away. Right now.
To the world:
Stop dealing with this heartless, egotistical, compassion-lacking man baby. We arent a TV film-set for Billions. This is real life with real consequences which exist after you turn off the TV.
CAFM
stopdiggin
(11,387 posts)And, in particular - the U.S. government, and military, needs to take a hard look at the advisability of any dealings with such a capricious entity. Profoundly destabilizing to have a business partner crashing around like a bull in a china shop. The government needs to seek out more solid footing. (investors would be well advised to do the same)
Karma13612
(4,555 posts)Just one more example of why we should never ever privatize SS and MCR.
Shop olive
(13 posts)This guy needs mental therapy.
Aviation Pro
(12,202 posts)"Nice Space-X contract ya got there, Mollusk, be a shame if anything should happen to it."
former9thward
(32,097 posts)They have started delivering astronauts to the station recently. Who else can do that?
BumRushDaShow
(129,662 posts)Boeing with its Starliner craft that docked with ISS for the first time this past May - https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-docking-international-space-station
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)Every other week this man changes his mind about something.
I wonder if he makes an Announcement in public, Like "I'm not going to buy Twitter", or "I'm not going to maintain star link", As a way to call for funding of some kind out loud, but in transactions are done in secret.
I just think there's something deeper behind all of this than him just being a bumbling idiot.🤷🏾?♀️
Look how trump portrays himself as a bumbling idiot but then we find out he orchestrated
January 6th.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying the Orange monkey is a genius lol no one could keep that act up for this long. I do think these distractions are unintentional
So what is the truth in what Elon was doing? Did he signal a way to get more money for this for the things that he didn't want to pay for anymore? I don't know. 🤷🏾?♀️
It's just weird how men like Elon, Orange monkey, and that My Pillow idiot Are constantly announcing things in the media, stuff that you would think they wouldn't want people to know.
I think they figured out they can do business out in the open and nobody will suspect anything. If they behave Seemingly erratically, we will ignore when they're actually putting truth out there that they want someone to know that's not us
Like when Michael Landell said the FBI told me not to say anything, but they took my phone they took everything I have no way to conduct business. He was making sure somebody that he wanted to hear him, knew he was compromised.
That's the only thing that makes sense about these men and their big mouths. 🤔🤔🤔
And then the media plays along by asking dumb questions like "well if he does it out in the open is it really a crime"?
And constantly asking hmmm "is this illegal does"? or "Does this really meet the snuff test for a crime"?
It just seems very odd doesn't it?