Tesla CEO Elon Musk has provided an update on SpaceX’s Starlink internet in Ukraine.
After activating Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine in less than a day after it was requested, Musk and his teams shipped a truckload of satellites to the nation under attack by Russia.
On Thursday, Musk said SpaceX was “updating software to reduce peak power consumption, so Starlink can be powered from car cigarette lighter.”
The SpaceX CEO was replying to Mykhailo Fedorov, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, who later said “thanks” to Musk.
Updating software to reduce peak power consumption, so Starlink can be powered from car cigarette lighter.
Mobile roaming enabled, so phased array antenna can maintain signal while on moving vehicle.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
Musk also explained, “mobile roaming enabled, so phased array antenna can maintain signal while on moving vehicle.” Normally, Starlink only works from a fixed location such as your home address.
Two hours later, Musk shared an “important warning”, saying “Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.”
Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
Musk’s suggestions said to “turn on Starlink only when needed and place antenna away as far away from people as possible.”
Turn on Starlink only when needed and place antenna away as far away from people as possible
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
He also added, “place light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection.” Typically, a Starlink dish needs a clear view of the sky to operate, so it can be an easy target spotted from above.
Presumably, Ukrainian military using Starlink could be easily spotted by Russian aerial forces, as the dish stands out when sitting on rooftops or mounted on its own.
Place light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
Normally, ordering Starlink includes a dish and wireless router to complete the set up. There are over 2,000 Starlink satellites roaming the Earth, with SpaceX launching another batch on Thursday morning.
Ukraine recently shared Starlink download speeds in the nation had hit 200 Mbps, allowing the government to stay online and maintain communications with the world, as it remains under heavy attack from Russia.
