Free Republic

A watchdog group has filed a conflict-of-interest complaint over concerns that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has “blatantly” pressured the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use Starlink. The Washington, DC-based Campaign Legal Center also filed a lawsuit to stop Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from making “unlawful” cuts to the federal budget. On Thursday, the group sent the 12-page conflict-of-interest complaint about Musk to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Transportation, which oversees the FAA. The center argues that the billionaire is using his position in the Trump administration to push the FAA into buying...

The fight between Elon Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has entered unchartered waters. According to a post on X, Brazil’s bar and NOVO party have filed to overturn Moraes’ X ban in the country. Mario Nawfal, a citizen journalist on X, says, “You know you’ve gone too far as a Justice when the Nation’s Bar Association goes after you.” As reported, the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) and the Novo Party have asked Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques to overturn Alexandre de Moraes’ decision to suspend X, which was supported by the 1st Panel. Supreme Court Justice Nunes...

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio have traded barbs with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski over the use of Musk’s Starlink internet service in Ukraine. During the tense exchange on X on Sunday, Sikorski suggested that Poland, which pays Ukraine’s Starlink costs to help it repel Russia’s invasion, might have to seek alternative suppliers if Musk’s satellite network proves to be an “unreliable provider”. -snip- Rubio came to Musk’s defence following Sikorski’s post, accusing the Polish politician of “making things up”. “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink,” Rubio...

At this point you have to wonder if some in Europe want the Ukraine war just to continue when they keep spitting in the eye of the United States' efforts to bring a diplomatic end to the war. Elon Musk responded on X to someone suggesting he wasn't criticizing Vladimir Putin enough and that he was only criticizing Ukraine. Musk just squashed that thought with a little bit of history about how he challenged Putin and how vital his Starlink was to the Ukrainian army. I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink...

The leader of Canada's biggest economy is ripping up a deal with 'First Buddy' Elon Musk as the country continues to try and fight back against Donald Trump's tariffs. Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario, home to both Canada's capital of Ottawa and largest city in Toronto. He has been one of the most fearsome fighters against Trump's tariff war with Canada which officially went into effect after midnight on Tuesday. Ford - who also threatened to cut off energy to the United States - launched into an attack on Musk, canceling the company's $100million CAN ($68million US) contract...

The eighth flight test of Starship is preparing to launch Monday, March 3. The 60-minute launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. CT...As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to check in here and stay tuned to our X account for updates.After completing the investigation into the loss of Starship early on its seventh flight test, several hardware and operational changes have been made to increase reliability of the upper stage. You can read the full summary of the mishap investigation here.The upcoming flight will fly the same suborbital...

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service could take over a Federal Aviation Administration contract to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems, The Associated Press reported. Starlink's internet equipment has already been installed in at least two different FAA facilities, according to the wire service, which cited government employees and other people familiar with the matter. Starlink is also preparing to take over a $2 billion contract currently held by telecom provider Verizon, the AP said. Starlink, which is owned by Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite internet access for residential and business customers. It bills itself as the most "advanced internet...

To be clear here, the Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly. The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk. The Starlink terminals are being sent at NO COST to the taxpayer on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity. The situation is extremely dire. CBSnooze FREAKS OUT: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starlink-faa-contract-elon-musk-conflict-of-interest/

WARSAW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Poland said on Saturday it has been paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription and will continue to do so despite sources saying the United States could consider cutting Ukraine's access to the satellite internet system. U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to Elon Musk's vital Starlink satellite internet system, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to the war-torn country and its military. "We pay and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine,"...

WARSAW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Poland said on Saturday it has been paying for Ukraine's Starlink subscription and will continue to do so despite sources saying the United States could consider cutting Ukraine's access to the satellite internet system. U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to Elon Musk's vital Starlink satellite internet system, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to the war-torn country and its military. "We pay and will continue to pay a subscription fee for satellite internet for Ukraine,"...

Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phqt9sz0T3Q

Newsweek has a BS story out claiming US a ID inspector general was investigating Starlink. The truth is the inspector General was just investigating how AI and Ukraine were using Starlink: May 14, 2024 The USAID Office of Inspector General, Inspections and Evaluations Division, is initiating an inspection of USAID’s oversight of Starlink satellite terminals provided to the Government of Ukraine. Our objectives are to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals.

Ontario says it's "ripping up" a contract with Starlink in response to U.S. tariffs on Canada. "Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy," Premier Ford says.

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from California's central coast today (Jan. 24, 2025). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink craft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base today, at 9:07 a.m. EST (1407 GMT; 6:07 a.m. local time). The Falcon 9's first stage booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, touching down in the Pacific Ocean on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" to mark SpaceX's 401st successful recovery of an orbital-class booster. Today's flight was the 23rd launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission...

I'm hearing that Trump "committed treason" during his Inauguration Eve speech as the rally last night by thanking Elon for "rigging the election" for him. None of the lefties in the DTS-osphere can provide a quote. Does anyone know what they are referring to?

Blastoff is imminent.

SpaceX has delayed the launch of its seventh Starship rocket to Monday, January 13. Little details were shared about the delay, which was first announced by Elon Musk during a Diablo stream on X.SpaceX officially delayed the flight of Starship Flight 7 on Wednesday morning in a post on X, stating it will now launch no earlier than January 13. SpaceX teams were also keeping an eye on the weather for pre-launch operations.This likely means the delays were due to poor launch weather on launch day this weekend, and the teams are hoping for better weather earlier next week...Musk shared...

Italy is reportedly close to sealing a €1.5 billion (£1.25 billion) deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX that would provide the country’s government with secure telecommunications. Giorgia Meloni’s government is in advanced talks with the billionaire tech entrepreneur and, according to Bloomberg news, a deal has already been approved by Italy’s ministry and intelligence services. Ms Meloni has built a close relationship with the Tesla billionaire, describing him last week as a “genius” who had been wrongly presented as a “monster” because of his support for Donald Trump. On Monday, the Italian prime minister sought to play down speculation about an...

Sacramento-area congressman Kevin Kiley took to the floor of the House of Representatives recently to declare the following: “Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to report that the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency has honed in on perhaps the single-greatest example of government waste in United States history,” the Republican from Rocklin intoned. “And that is California’s high-speed-rail boondoggle.”

... Orion's reentry followed a sharply angled trajectory, during which the capsule fell at an incredible speed before deploying three red and white parachutes. As the mission finished its trip of over 270,000 miles (435,000 kilometers), it looked to those on the deck of the USS Portland like the capsule had made it home in a single piece. As the recovery crew lifted Orion to the carrier's deck, shock waves ruffled across the capsule's surface. That's when crew members started to spot big cracks on Orion's lower surface, where the capsule's exterior bonds to its heat shield. But why wouldn't...