Starlink satellite communication system, kindly provided for free use to Ukraine by the owner of SpaceX, Elon Musk, in fact, is the only communication channel to provide communications for the Armed Forces of Ukraine both in the field, as well as long distance. Musk recently announced, that he is no longer ready to finance the work of transceiver stations, and even more so to supply new, at their own expense, but quickly changed his mind under the frank pressure of the US authorities.
In total, about 20 thousand Starlink terminals. Operations, supply related, just for the current date cost SpaceX 80 millions of dollars.
In Kyiv, just in case, hedged, trying to enter into direct negotiations with Musk and sort of found three sources of funding for the network, if the issue with payment arises again.
But it turned out, that in addition to Musk's unexpected eccentric statements, with Starlink, not everything is in order also for others, purely technical, reasons. American journal MIT Technology Review, writing about research and development in the field of high technologies, reported, that scientists from the University of Texas found a vulnerability in the Starlink security system. It turns out, satellite system not only provides internet connection, but also can work as a GPS navigation system.
Sort of, so what? But the fact, that this makes the timing sequence of the Starlink system unpredictable. Considering, that the GPS system operates over insecure open source channels, this makes it easy to spoof Starlink signals.
Ukraine and its allies in the West are beginning to realize, that they have little control over Starlink and know little about it, said University of Texas professor Todd Humphreys..
In its turn, the intersection of signals from SpaceX satellites to Starlink ground stations with GPS signals can create problems in the correct operation of the satellite navigation system.
Earlier, the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian officials, wrote about problems with the operation of Starlink terminals.. In its turn, Musk reported, that Russia is trying to “kill” the Starlink satellite Internet system in Ukraine, she might stop working, despite the resources invested in its defense. It is not excluded, that our cyber specialists, like American scientists, managed to find vulnerabilities in the system and are trying to take advantage of them, to deprive the Ukrainian military of the only stable communication channel. And if it happens, what will the Kyiv authorities do, also taking into account the fact that, that the entire energy system of Ukraine is close to collapse? Author:Alexander Grigoriev Photos used:https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/47926209216
