Elon Musk responded to an account on the X Platform [SEE HERE] that made a good point about how Zelenskyy’s unauthorized use of Starlink commercial satellites can create a downstream issue that is not being discussed.
FilmLadd – “Analysts who have been bashing Elon Musk for days over this don’t get it. Russia has the capacity to blow up satellites in space. They proved this on November 15, 2021, by firing a PL-19 Nudol missile at an old satellite of their own.
The impact created a large debris cloud—more than 1,500 trackable fragments plus hundreds of thousands of smaller pieces. The International Space Station was forced to implement safe-haven procedures: the seven-person crew (including Russian cosmonauts) sealed hatches and sheltered in the docked Soyuz and Crew Dragon spacecraft for several hours as the debris cloud repeatedly crossed their orbital path.
The ISS even had to perform thruster burns on multiple occasions over the following months to avoid the debris cloud orbiting the Earth.
If Russia decides that the civilian Starlink satellite network is weaponized and fair game, we risk a serious Kessler syndrome. First modeled by NASA’s Donald Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais in 1978, it describes a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit gets so high that collisions start producing debris faster than natural processes (mainly atmospheric drag) can remove.
Each collision creates more fragments, which raise the odds of further collisions, leading to a self-sustaining cascade, a runaway cloud of satellite debris that can make certain orbital bands increasingly hazardous.
Space could become unusable for years to centuries.
You like driving around with GPS? Starlink MUST remain a civilian entity.” [source]
“This is indeed one of the main reasons that Starlink must remain a civilian operation.
It can be used for infrastructure that is military, but it cannot be used for unequivocally offensive strikes that make it fair game to be struck back.
An adversary blowing up Starlink satellites would create a domino effect of destruction that would generate a vast field of debris making space unusable.” [source – Elon Musk]
This is not a far-fetched concern. As recently as last week this issue was in the news cycle but generally not discussed too much.
Multiple media and government reports confirmed that Russia’s military satellite Kosmos‑2612 maneuvered extremely close—between roughly 26 meters and 500 meters—to the U.S.-registered commercial radar satellite ICEYE‑X36 in mid‑October 2026. This close approach is considered unprecedented and raised concerns about potential surveillance or counterspace activity.
What Happened:
- The Russian satellite Kosmos‑2612 performed a series of deliberate orbital maneuvers to approach ICEYE‑X36, a U.S.-registered commercial radar-imaging satellite operated by ICEYE US.
- U.S. officials described the behavior as “deliberately reckless” and consistent with rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) that could be used to inspect, shadow, or interfere with another spacecraft. RF Europe
- Tracking firms such as LeoLabs observed the Russian satellite adjusting its orbit repeatedly to match and close in on ICEYE‑X36. Yahoo
How Close Did They Get? Different sources reported varying closest-approach distances:
- ~26 meters (85 feet) at the modeled closest point (unconfirmed). Yahoo
- ~500 meters (1,640 feet) according to high-confidence assessments by LeoLabs. Yahoo
- Within 200 meters, according to some U.S. estimates. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Even the largest estimate (500 m) is considered extremely close in orbital terms.
Why It Matters:
- ICEYE‑X36 provides synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imagery, valuable for military intelligence and used by Ukraine. This likely explains Russian interest. hoodline.com
- The maneuver is considered the first known uncoordinated close approach between two active satellites in low Earth orbit where one owner did not give permission.Yahoo
- U.S. officials warned the behavior resembles on‑orbit weapons testing or at least hostile reconnaissance. Ars Technica
Current Status:
- After the close approach, Kosmos‑2612 began drifting away, though analysts caution it could resume proximity operations or other Russian satellites may attempt similar maneuvers. Interesting Engineering
Thankfully President Trump and Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin are able to just pick up the phone and talk to each other. They have developed a relationship that allows direct talks and immediate deconfliction.
However, if U.S. Starlink satellites are being used by Ukraine, without authorization, to target objectives deep inside Russia, a nuclear-armed power this could develop into a very serious issue. Thus, avoid this problem becomes the issue that Elon Musk is trying to mitigate.
From an operational perspective, Russia now seemingly has a very valid claim that U.S. assets (a nuclear power) were being used to target Russia (another nuclear power). This is not a good scenario.
Zelenskyy is putting the USA in a very difficult position. Musk is essentially trying to mitigate the potential threat from Zelenskyy’s self-centered and short-sighted behavior.
As much as we have criticized him in the past, Elon Musk is the right guy with the right position on this issue.
Send Z on a year long space mission to count the satellites.
Really, does the little pig care about any of this, oh hell no.
The Little Pig doesn’t care about any of this and neither do the Democrats, the War Party, the EU Leadership, NATO and the Green Party Women who run Europe!
Better yet … time to send the Cocaine Cockroach to an all expenses paid, one-time visit to … the “The Roach Motel.”
Ground Control to Major Tom
If they had a sense of consequences of their own actions, they wouldn’t be Democrats. Don’t forget, this is the group that stuck their thumb in the eye of a country that has nuclear weapons over a made up political narrative.
As a rule, when people don’t value life, they also don’t consider consequences. Combined with the propensity to blame white men and patriarchy, they only feel more powerful when disaster strikes.
Suicidal empathy is bad enough. “Suicidal Pathology” says ‘hold my beer!’
For real, this is the group that unleashed a biological weapon in their own Country because they didn’t like the President that the citizens elected.
A survey I read this week said that 78% of Democratic women blame men for everything. Only 18% of Republican women do the same.
Tell me again why there hasn’t been a mishap with little Napoleon?
Because Trump is a nice guy. His agenda seems consistent with people seeing and understanding rather than taking actions and having to explain later. As much as we want him to do the latter, there’s wisdom in the former.
He’s not as crazy as he acts. I think we all agree on that.
Because Z is just a sneaky little crapweasel who can be played. His replacement would likely be more overt and therefore more dangerous. Best to continue with the charade.
What are you talking about?
There’s been an ongoing “mishap” since Napoleon Z was foolishly put into power.
This is when we need people to keep the gloves on. But at the same time, I’ve been preaching consistently on tech dependency as a thing to be avoided. Maybe when a ‘taken for granted’ technology like gps is destroyed, people will finally understand what I’ve been talking about.
I’m able to handle the removal of technology like this. “I told you so” will be ringing in their ears for the rest of their lives.
I wonder what would happen if those directed energy weapons were aimed at orbital debris.
Count on Musk to already have a plasma vaporizer weapon to clean the skies when he needs it.
WITH DEFERENCE TO WORDMAN:
<Count on Musk to already have a …..weapon to clean the skies when he needs it>
Musk understands the gravity of the situation. 🙂
At some point in the future — maybe fifty years from now, if not sooner — it will become necessary for trash collector spacecraft to start cleaning up the space junk now floating around in earth orbit. It will be an expensive proposition, to be sure. But one which we will have no other choice but to pursue if we want to keep satellites safe in orbit. It’s just a matter of time before the need to do this becomes unavoidable.
As long as they separate the glass, metal, plastic, wood and organic material. Must keep space clean for future generations. 🙂
If you try to vaporize space debris by hitting it with a ground-based laser weapon, the debris will start ejecting vaporized gas and particles from its earth-facing side. That’s like putting a small thruster rocket under the debris – Newton’s third law – you are pushing the debris higher into orbit. You want to push the debris downward instead, toward earth, so it will burn up on reentry. Pushing it higher keeps it up in orbit longer and might push it into the path of other objects.
Elon needs to invent a tractor-beam instead.
The U.S. supposedly has offensive satellites in orbit. It has been discussed before that they could also be used to clean up garbage that’s floating around. We have already successfully tested ground-based lasers that have destroyed some of our own space debris.
Call me after you get the toothpaste back in the tube, OK?
I don’t know if this is ‘short-sighted’ on the Z gnome’s part.
And it’s not really him…it is his EU handlers.
I think they know and just don’t care…they think they can force Trump’s hand…that the only way he can stop them is to visibly align with Russia. They don’t think that will ever happen, and they may be right.
Enter Elon Musk. He doesn’t care what the EU/Z-man think of him, and he is smarter than they are, AOC’s opinion notwithstanding…
it would be politically incorrect of PT to do so, i agree,
but for what (political) reasons i’m still not sure i understand.
i thought the executive branch had been given SCOTUS’ imprimatur
to conduct negotiations with anybody?
however, given the reality of the situation, when has PT ever shied away
from doing something that isn’t politically expedient?
if it came down to it, i don’t think he would have the slightest hesitation
telling the EU et al to shove it.
perhaps he might soften the decision by approaching it as a temporary
alliance to address the space debris concerns and Z’s erratic, aggressive behaviour.
and all the while continuing to make life very, very difficult for those intent on armageddon.
And all of this is still consistent with the point of view that Z is working for the interests of a group determined to pit the Christian West (that includes the US) against Christian Russia in a hot war that would self-destructively end Christianity. I presume both Trump and Putin see this and are quietly maneuvering around it. Best to not say it out loud.
Excellent point Trapper.
yeah that was my first thought wtih the starlink; RUS could and would be a reasonable response if they were being targeted through the sats. The little midget is really trying to lock us (US) into this escalation. Little prick.
Zelensky needs to go. By any means possible
I’ve yet to have a Ukraine flag emoji explain how direct conflict between the US and Russia is a good thing, yet their daily earnest clamoring/suggestions/demands will 100% lead to no other end.
Ukraine cannot win without US help. US help is dragging us into war with Russia. Where am I wrong.
Keep the phone lines open boys….
TY
He is dangerous and should be removed at once, with prejudice. So too Merz and Macron. Get out of NATO and the UN. Remove our weapons from France, England and Germany to avoid nuclear armed Islam.
Mind blowing number: Starlink has over 11,000 satellites in orbit right now
https://keeptrack.space/starlink-satellite-count
More than HALF of all satellites in orbit are Starlink satellites. That’s not all satellites launched by SpaceX, that’s only counting the ones used for the Starlink system. They launch about 180 per month, every month.
I saw a video clip recently (that I haven’t found again) showing a SpaceX rocket just shooting Starlink satellite after satellite into position out of a slot in the rocket’s side like a big Pez dispenser, one after another.
THAT’S a lot of space-debris if Russia or anyone else starts to blow them up.
For another look, SpaceX has an app that shows the orbital positions of all of the Starlink birds. They literally blanket the sky.
https://app.keeptrack.space/?preset=starlink
An attacker wouldn’t even need to hunt for them. The coordinates are live-updated.
So shut it down and say the Russians did it. The war ends within hours.
Beans, Bombs and the Decline of British Leadership
From nuclear war warnings to beans on the BBC, Britain’s leaders seem incapable of distinguishing a national emergency from a public-relations opportunity
James Macpherson
https://jamesmacpherson.substack.com/p/beans-bombs-and-the-decline-of-british
What should Americans call Canada?
South Alaska or South Greenland?
Call it the North Forty.
Of course, the English are the only people I know of who think baked beans on toast is a culinary delight.
The world has been very fortunate that Putin has been in power all these years. A lesser man and the world may not have survived.
Thus President Trump’s calling him “humanitarian”. He could vaporize Kiev in a nano second.
Yes, I agree. It’s always better to have a person with a KGB/Stasi/Communist Party background in charge of a country with 6,000 nukes! Just ask Boris Yeltsin.
One more thing…
Do you notice what HASN’T happened in the last week? I haven’t heard about any Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries since this whole Starlink/Starshield drama performance started. The last attack I can find was October 14th or 15th against the Rosneft refinery in Ryazan.
Cutting off Zelensky’s pirated modifications WORKED. It stopped the attacks on refineries – proof they were illegally using Starlink as an offensive weapon. No pirate-mods, no refineries blowing up, no further diminishment of worldwide diesel supplies.
Unbelievable. With this incredible reporting by Sundance comes a deep loathing for this “man” that I had managed to keep at detestable levels. He and V Nuland are repulsive turds. No, that would be an insult to turds (as others here have deftly pointed out).
Here is what pi**es me off about this Ukraine garbage…. Zelenski is a BULLY. He wants something, he creates a “situation” and then screams to the World about how Ukraine is being “murdered” because of the “situation” HE created.
This then rains down condemnation upon the head(s) of whomever Zelenki is trying to coerce into doing what he wants.
So, now he gets the use of Stalink for his drone warfare against Russia – a complete violation of the TOS. He is also setting up an impeachment of President Trump and Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.
You get the know nothing media repeating his lies – such as the deliberate conflation of Starshield (that he has no access to) and Starlink (that he is using to kill). Just like his demanding whines about needing interceptors (that are in very short supply) he is whining about Starlink because he wants Starshield!
Once you stand back and look at the WHOLE picture of his whining, you see exactly what he is doing. The EUweenies play along… and are getting played big time. President Trump does not play along and gets vilified.
What REALLY ticks me off is how Elon is being treated in this game being played by Z. If it were not for Elon, Ukraine would have fallen long ago and many more civillians would have died.
When this conflict is over, we will learn about all the money that was stolen by little Z and his friends.
Absolutely sick of Ukraine and its corruption and the media that REFUSE to report the truth of it all.
That, in a nutshell, is how propaganda works. Story as old as the printing press.
Agreed. The EU smh
Using a commercial satellite for radar mapping and targeting by the Ukrainians. Would that not be another issue.
5 x 5 km scene with a .25m resolution would be useful.
Pretty impressive technology.
https://iceye-ltd.github.io/product-documentation/6.0.3/productspecification/introduction/
@Sundance-What????? This is real? How did Z man’s people break into the code of Starling? I believe there is a bigger story here….
WWI was launched by accidental intent.
If these EU and US Congress Corruptorats keep playing with fire, someone is gunna get burned.
FAFO big time.
There are no “Accidental Wars”, all wars are Bankers Wars…
Why didn’t musk just tell Z you effed up and hit the off button on them. they don’t get access to it anymore no second chances
Z needs to be targeted and removed without prejudice ASAP.
” Zelenskyy is putting the USA in a very difficult position.” … I find this hard to believe, we all know the man is NOT calling the shots but is mearly a mouthpiece for the DS.
Why is Z still walking the Earth?
Why is Soros, ex-USAID, etc.?
Why is the USA making additional problems for itself?
FBI can quickly scoop up 100s of people who were just out for a walk on Jan 7th, but USA agencies cannot shut these problems down?
There are too many self-serving, greedy, corrupt, power-hungry bureaucrats in all governments.
These things and many others are like an unbalanced flywheel.
This will shake apart.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” We may be getting to the point where we need that militia. The Founders thought that would be all able bodied male citizens who could bring their own guns and ammunition and assemble to protect their towns and families.
That photo of Musk reminds me of the Michael Whelan cover painting for “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” by Heinlein . . . about a war between the Moon colony and the Earth.