Musk taunts Putin with dig as SpaceX launches rocket without Russia’s help

Elon Musk has taunted Vladimir Putin’s Russian space agency after its chief promised to block its engines being used by US rockets.

The Tesla and SpaceX founder successfully launched a batch of Starlink satellites despite the warning from Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin.

SpaceX launched another 48 satellites to join the massive constellation to provide internet access around the world.

The launch was SpaceX’s 10th launch and saw the Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida in the US.

Just a minute before the launch, an unnamed SpaceX's launch director is heard saying: "Time to let the American broomstick fly and hear the sounds of freedom.”

The remark was in response to Mr Rogozin comments when he threatened to block use of the “World’s best rocket engines”.

Speaking to state television, Mr Rogozin said: “In a situation like this we can’t supply the United States with our world’s best rocket engines.

“Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don’t know what.”

Mr Musk also announced today that SpaceX had updated its Starlink software “to reduce peak power consumption, so Starlink can be powered from car cigarette lighter.”

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He said: “Mobile roaming enabled, so phased array antenna can maintain signal while on moving vehicle.”

SpaceX currently has permission from US authorities to send up 12,000 satellites and as of February 2022, the beta internet service is currently available in 29 countries.

Mr Musk has been helping Ukraine by supplying Starlink to the country at the request of the country’s Vice Prime Minister.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, tweeted Mr Musk asking for use of Starlink following Russia ’s invasion.

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They have since received a second shipment of stations to the country as well as other tech to help them stay online.

Mr Fedorov tweeted: “Received the second shipment of Starlink stations! @elonmusk keeps his word! Thank you for supporting Ukraine and peace in the entire world!”

Mr Musk replied: “You’re welcome. We have also sent power adapters for car cigarette lighters, solar/battery packs and generators for places where electricity is not available.”

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