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Robert Garcia, D-Calif. and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., responded to reports that Russia may be illegally purchasing and using Starlink satellite internet equipment in parts of Ukraine. SpaceX started looking.
In a letter to SpaceX, President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said members of Congress want spacecraft launches to continue working to prevent unauthorized use of Starlink tools and services. The move comes amid growingconcerns over Russia’s alleged purchase and deployment of Starlink terminals in eastern Ukraine.
SpaceX, founded and managed by Elon Musk, faced scrutiny after allegations emerged that Russia was using the Starlinksatellite terminal in Ukraine under its control. The company made a profit by providing satellite internet service during the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, after the incident, questions arose regarding the unintended consequences of providing such technology in a conflict zone.
In Walter Isaacson’s memoirs, Elon Musk said that he believed Starlink was not intended for military use, but that its purpose was to support peaceful purposes such as education and entertainment. The book states that Musk ordered the shutdown of the Starlink satellite network over Crimea to protect Ukraine from attacking Russian ships, but Musk denied this claim.
The proposal caused controversy when it was published in 2023 and drew criticism from Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kiev’s General Intelligence Service (GUR) later released evidence of Russian forces using starlink in Donetsk, raising concerns about violations of US export controls.
House Democrats’ investigation into SpaceX’s practices is not isolated, as bipartisan concerns have also been raised about the company’s satellite communications network. In February, the House Committee, led by Representative Wisconsin. Mike Gallagher asked Elon Musk to allow the US military in Taiwan access to SpaceX’s Starshield network designed for military use.Failure to meet contractual obligations would have a significant impact on SpaceX’s relationship with the Department of Defense.
When asked to comply with US government contracts, SpaceX has yet to respond to concerns about its alleged use ofRussia’s Starlink.
The congressional investigation followed recent developments, including the arrest of a New Jersey man on charges of trading stolen cards or stolen money in 675 credit accounts. SpaceX Starlink Terminal. Police working with SpaceX continue toinvestigate the nature of the illegal purchase and the location of the equipment.
The outcome of House Democrats’ investigation into SpaceX’s management of the Starlink satellite network will also dependon lawmakers’ efforts to enforce export laws and reduce security risks associated with unauthorized use of technology inconflict zones.