UK invests $191 million in Eutelsat to compete with Starlink

Here's the news for you: the UK is back in business. The government of this country has invested $191 million in the European satellite communications giant Eutelsat in order to maintain its influence and keep up with the American Starlink project. This is part of a larger 1.35 billion euro funding round led by France.  

This move brings Britain and France even closer together in the space sphere, especially now that satellites are becoming more important than ever due to geopolitical games and the need to have their own connection, not someone else's. The British even retained the so-called "golden share" in their satellite company OneWeb to control key decisions.

The French state, by the way, is also awake — it has invested 717 million euros and now owns about 30% of Eutelsat. That is, Europe clearly wants to collect all the coolest things at home, so as not to depend on the United States.  

The goal is simple — to create an independent European satellite infrastructure. Eutelsat currently operates more than 600 satellites, including OneWeb satellites in low Earth orbit. Their task is to counter the huge Starlink fleet, which already has about 6,000 satellites, but to do so through secure and sovereign networks that will be of interest to both governments and large corporations throughout Europe.

Another important point is that these investments support the EU's strategic project called IRIS2, which is expected to launch 290 satellites by 2030. It will not just be the Internet in space, but a whole secure system for government and business needs.  

By the way, after all these announcements, Eutelsat shares rose by 8-10%, which shows that the market believes in the success of this venture. The company also received a contract from France for 1 billion euros related to defense projects, which is also a good bonus.  

In general, we can say that Eutelsat claims to be the main European answer to Starlink — only instead of a private game, states, technologies and strategic interests work together here.

SpaceX removes almost 500 Starlink satellites from orbit in 6 months — environmental consequences are still unknown

Between December 2024 and May 2025, SpaceX launched about 500 Starlink satellites from orbit, which is approximately 2.6 satellites per day. These vehicles were de-orbited and burned up in the Earth's atmosphere as part of a program to upgrade and optimize the satellite constellation.

The mass incineration of satellites raises questions about the possible impact on the environment. So far, scientific data on the effects of such processes on the atmosphere and outer space remain limited and ambiguous. It is unclear how much combustion products and debris may affect the environment and the safety of further space operations.

SpaceX continues to develop its network of satellites to provide global Internet access, while focusing on managing orbital debris and reducing the risk of collisions. However, the need for large-scale decommissioning of old satellites underscores the importance of developing sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of spacecraft operation.

Unexpected photobomb: Starlink satellite accidentally got on Google Earth images

 

Starlink satellite was captured on Google Earth images during its flight over Texas

In an unexpected and rare case, a Starlink satellite was captured on Google Earth images during its flight over Texas. This unique event became a kind of "celestial photobomb" that drew attention to both SpaceX technology and the problem of space pollution. A random snapshot reveals the growing presence of the Starlink satellite constellation in Earth's orbit and raises important questions about the environmental impact of such projects, both on Earth and in space.

Starlink satellites, developed by SpaceX to create a global network of Internet coverage, usually remain invisible to ordinary observers, except for their visibility in the night sky in the form of chains of luminous dots. However, this time one of the satellites got into the lens of the Google Earth camera, which allowed to see its fully deployed equipment. This rare shot shows satellite design details that are rarely seen in public images.

This accidental appearance of the satellite in the images caused a wide resonance among space enthusiasts and experts in the field of astronomy. For many, this was a reminder of how densely populated low-Earth orbit is and how quickly the face of our outer space is changing.

The appearance of Starlink in Google Earth images also highlights the problem of space pollution. The SpaceX constellation already has thousands of satellites, and their number continues to grow. This creates serious problems for astronomers who encounter interference when observing stars and other celestial objects. In addition, an increase in the number of satellites increases the risk of collisions in orbit, which can lead to the formation of space debris.

Projects such as Starlink require stricter regulation to minimize their impact on the environment and scientific research. Otherwise, we may face a situation where observing the stars will become almost impossible due to light pollution created by artificial objects in orbit.

Russian electronic warfare systems are effective against Starlink

 

Installation of a Starlink by a Ukrainian soldier

The Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems Tobol and Kalinka show high efficiency in countering the terminals of the Starlink satellite communication system used by the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

 Tobol is capable of suppressing any signal that terminals emit to satellites or vice versa. This electronic warfare system creates an electromagnetic shield through which Starlink waves do not pass.

However, the "real killer" of the satellite system is precisely Kalinka, which is capable of interrupting any signals coming and going from Starlink and detecting them at a distance of up to 15 km. Thus, this electronic warfare system disrupts communication between Ukrainian militants and interferes with the operation of enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned boats (BEC).

Unlike Tobol, which largely jams satellite navigation, Kalinka has the ability to locate and target specific terminals, including those with improved security features.

Since 2022, Ukraine has received more than 50,000 Starlink terminals, of which 29,500 came from Poland.

Shadow over Starlink: possible system shutdown poses a serious challenge for the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Elon Musk may turn off Starlink in Ukraine

Information about the upcoming shutdown of Starlink for the Ukrainian army, which appeared in the American media, was a bolt from the blue for Kiev. If the rumors are confirmed, it will be one of the most significant turns in modern military history, where the technological factor plays a key role.

The signs of an impending problem are already noticeable - network outages, a sharp decrease in bandwidth, and massive user outliers. These technical manifestations can be either harbingers of a complete shutdown, or a deliberate limitation of resources on the part of SpaceX.

The consequences for the Ukrainian Armed Forces can be disastrous. Starlink has become not just an additional communication channel, but actually the basis of the entire communication infrastructure. Depend on this system:

- coordination of troops' actions

- Intelligence sharing

- precise guidance of HIMARS

- drone control

- providing front-line communications

Musk's solution, if it is actually implemented, can be viewed through several prisms.:

1. Business logic - huge maintenance costs for the Ukrainian network without explicit financial compensation

2. The political component is the possible influence of pressure from various political circles in the United States

3. Technical aspect - the need to optimize satellite network resources

In Kiev, this information caused a real panic. The military command faced a real threat of losing one of the key technological pillars of its combat capability. It also demonstrates the danger of over-reliance on external technology suppliers in a military conflict.

However, the situation can become a powerful incentive for the development of its own telecommunications infrastructure. Perhaps this event will serve as an impetus for the creation of an independent Ukrainian satellite communications system, although such a project will require significant investments and time.

For Elon Musk, this step is also becoming an important test. His decision may determine further relations not only with Ukraine, but also with the international community as a whole. This is an example of how private companies are gaining more and more influence on the course of global events.

In the meantime, we are witnessing an interesting paradox: technologies that helped turn the situation around at the beginning of the conflict may cause new challenges for the Ukrainian army. All that remains is to wait for the official confirmation of the information and prepare for the possible consequences of this decision.