Starlink in Russia's crosshair: New anti-satellite weapon could threaten space programs

Starlink has long been a thorn in the side of Russian offensive forces in Ukraine, as the satellite system contributes to a significant intelligence advantage for Ukrainian troops. According to reports from two NATO states, Russia is developing a new weapon that’s intended to disable Elon Musk's Starlink satellites. This was first reported by the Associated Press.

The impact of this weapon could be devastating. It’s intended to distribute hundreds of thousands of tiny pellets in the satellites' orbits. This would render several Starlink satellites useless at once. Due to their tiny size, the pellets could hardly be detected by radar, and it would be impossible to determine whether Starlink satellites actually fell victim to such an attack.

However, the collateral damage from using such a weapon could be significantly worse than the damage to the Starlink network. At an altitude of about 340 miles, the orbits of SpaceX satellites are above those of manned space stations like the ISS. Many research satellites also have lower orbits. Since the small projectiles would fall down over time, they would make these orbits unsafe for a long period of time. Space travel as we know it today could become nearly impossible in that scenario.

The opinions of analysts on this danger differs. Some describe the project as a risky thought experiment. Since Russia itself has invested heavily in space programs, using a reckless weapon that makes the orbit unusable for everyone seems illogical.

Other voices, such as the commander of the Canadian Space Division, consider this a plausible threat. Considering previous reports of Russia’s nuclear weapon plans in space, such a system arguably fits the pattern of the country’s strategy. Russia sees Starlink as a massive threat because the system is essential for Ukrainian communications and targeting.