2y ago

Japan's military considers adopting Musk's Starlink satellite service – report

www.rappler.com Japan's military considers adopting Musk's Starlink satellite service – report

Japan's Self-Defense Forces have been testing Starlink since March with the system deployed in about 10 locations and in training, Yomiuri newspaper reports

TOKYO, Japan – Japan’s military is testing Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service with an eye to adopting the technology next fiscal year, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, June 25, citing unnamed government sources.

The Ministry of Defense already has access to communication satellites in geostationary orbit, but use of Starlink technology, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, would add a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, the Yomiuri said.

Countries around the world are seeking to build resilience against the risk of jamming of communications or attacks on satellites in the event of conflict.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have been testing Starlink since March with the system deployed in about 10 locations and in training, the newspaper said.

Defense ministry spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment on the report outside business hours.

Starlink technology is being deployed by Ukraine on the battlefield, and Russia is attempting to block its use in the region. Musk said in October SpaceX could not afford to indefinitely fund Starlink’s use in Ukraine.

The US Defense Department said this month it had contracted to provide Starlink services there. – Rappler.com

18 comments

Only one of many reasons why Starlink is a very concerning project.
- Why? That means that the US can shut off Japan's army access to starlink at anytime.
  
  That's actually not what I meant but is a consideration. What I meant is that it is very problematic that the US DoD has control of a communications system which is being marketed both to individual people in various parts of the world, as well as comprador governments. It's also very concerning that so many of these satellites are being launched and clogging up low earth orbit. Not to mention the intelligence concerns of states whose interests are not aligned with those of the US military and intelligence apparatus. There are also pollution concerns on earth what with a stack of these being launched every week or so and the fact that even when SpaceX are ostensibly done with the buildout they'll have to keep replacing older satellites. Overall it's a project which needs to be met with much more criticism, which it is outside of the cheerleading western media.
  
  Precisely, is that not very concerning?

tl;dr:
Japan's Self-Defense Forces have been testing Starlink since March with the system deployed in about 10 locations and in training, Yomiuri newspaper reports. TOKYO, Japan - Japan's military is testing Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service with an eye to adopting the technology next fiscal year, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, June 25, citing unnamed government sources. The Ministry of Defense already has access to communication satellites in geostationary orbit, but use of Starlink technology, operated by Musk's SpaceX, would add a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, the Yomiuri said. Japan's Self-Defense Forces have been testing Starlink since March with the system deployed in about 10 locations and in training, the newspaper said. Musk said in October SpaceX could not afford to indefinitely fund Starlink's use in Ukraine.
I am a bot in training. Feedback

I saw starlink up in the sky a little while ago. Kinda ruins the night sky. People have been drawing inspiration from the stars forever, and it feels weird that future generations may not be able to do the same.

The adoption of starlink by the military is the last nail in the coffin for ground based astronomy.

18 comments

tl;dr: