Elon Musk attends Space Force ceremony as US weighs Starlink bill, Twitter probe
Twitter boss Elon Musk attended the Space Force’s first-ever change-of-command ceremony Wednesday as the Pentagon remains in talks with the billionaire over providing Ukraine access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service — and the Treasury Department weighs a closer look at his latest acquisition.
Musk looked on at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Gen. Chance Saltzman became the second-ever chief of space operations, succeeding the “father of the Space Force,” Gen. Jay Raymond.
“Jay was the first member – the very first member – of the United States Space Force,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the ceremony. “He stood up the first new service branch for our military in more than 70 years.”
Musk’s appearance at the event stuck out from other high-profile attendees, which included lawmakers and top military brass such as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who had warm words for the billionaire.
The top military officer acknowledged Musk as one of three people “in this entire crowd [who] have actually traveled to space.” Among the other two were NASA administrator and former Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who flew aboard the Space Shuttle in 1986 while a member of Congress.
“[Musk] symbolizes, in reality, the combination of the civil and military cooperation and teamwork that makes the United States the most powerful country in space,” Milley added while thanking the SpaceX owner for attending.
The South Africa-born Tesla CEO caused a furor last month when he threatened to stop providing Starlink to Ukraine and asked the US government to foot the bill instead. He dropped the threat days later and continues to provide Ukraine the service for free, as he has since the early days of the invasion.
“The hell with it … even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free,” Musk said in a tweet on Oct. 16.
The latest US military aid package for Ukraine unveiled Friday for the first time included military satellite communication antennas designed to connect Ukrainian fighters when Russia destroys civilian infrastructure.
However, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the tools were “not intended to serve as a substitute for a service like Starlink.”
“These just help improve communications capabilities on the battlefield,” Singh said. “We’re seeing Ukrainian infrastructure and electrical grids being targeted by the Russians and these antennas provide an additional capability on the ground at a critical time when Ukraine’s infrastructure has been hit.”
Still, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday that the Defense Department continues consulting Starlink and other satellite communications companies about Ukraine’s needs as its war with Russia enters its ninth month.
“We continue to discuss Ukraine satellite communication needs with Ukraine and companies like SpaceX and others,” Ryder said. “[I have] no announcements to make today in regards to any potential contracts or future agreements.”
Musk’s appearance at the Space Force ceremony came one day after the Washington Post reported the Treasury Department is looking into whether can review his Oct. 27 Twitter purchase due to his ties to foreign governments and investors — including a holding company run by a Saudi prince and a subsidiary of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
