Musk warns of ‘domino effect’ if Starlink satellites are struck

Elon Musk has expressed concern about possible strikes on Starlink satellites, warning of catastrophic consequences for the entire space infrastructure.

The billionaire wrote about this on his social network X.

According to Musk, Starlink should remain a civilian service — this is the main reason the system should not be used in offensive operations. Participation in such operations, in his view, turns the satellites into a legitimate target for retaliatory strikes.

“It can be used to support military infrastructure, but not for unambiguously offensive strikes, which turn the satellites into a legitimate target for retaliatory attacks,” Musk wrote.

The SpaceX chief also described a scenario in which a strike on Starlink satellites would have devastating consequences for all of space.

“An adversary strike on Starlink satellites would create a devastating domino effect, generating a wide field of debris, which in turn would make the use of space impossible,” Musk said.

Musk left his comment in response to another X user’s suggestion that Russia might use PL-19-181M/Nudol missiles to strike satellites. Such a missile was tested by Russia in 2021, when it destroyed an old satellite.

Earlier, Elon Musk called those who want the war in Ukraine to continue at the cost of Ukrainian men’s lives “pieces of shit” and “the dregs of humanity.”