Following the integration of DOGE, the FAA announces exploration of Starlink equipment integration within its own infrastructure.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency SpaceX's Dogecoin-backed organization is simultaneously revamping. Various sources report that the FAA is testing SpaceX's Starlink satellite network to enhance telecommunications in secluded locations, like Alaska.
Bloomberg first reported this relationship, which the FAA later confirmed in a tweet on Monday evening. Alaska and similar regions struggle with dependable weather information, and Musk's satellite network might alleviate this issue, the FAA mentioned in a statement posted on Musk's site, X. The 2024 FAA Reauthorization compels the FAA to rectify telecommunications connections to accommodate these needs. As a result, the FAA has considered Starlink since the previous administration to boost reliability at remote sites, including Alaska.
Bloomberg's initial report suggests the deal involves SpaceX deploying over 4,000 Starlink terminals in 12-18 months. The FAA has already installed one terminal at its Atlantic City facility for tests, while two others are being tested at non-critical Alaska locations. CNN asserts that Starlink has agreed to an FAA contract, while Bloomberg's report merely mentions the agency's Starlink terminal trials. The FAA offered no additional comment when Gizmodo reached out for more information.
regardless of this partnership's specifics, the overlapping interests of Musk's company and federal agencies raise red flags. The connection between SpaceX and government agencies extends beyond the FAA, as SpaceX engineers were reportedly "onboarded" at the FAA last week to review the nation's air traffic control systems and modernize them. SpaceX's history with the FAA has been rocky, as the agency has sanctioned the company numerous times due to its various activities.
Although the FAA maintains a $2 billion contract with Verizon to upgrade its IT infrastructure, Musk has criticized Verizon's work, stating that the deal is "not working." SpaceX's dominance in the satellite industry is palpable, as it currently controls nearly two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit, based on recent data from satellite tracker CelesTrak. If Musk's satellite network becomes integrated with federal systems, it would symbolize intertwined connections between Musk's businesses and the U.S.'s national infrastructure.
Since President Trump took office, the FAA has overseen several plane crashes, including a Washington D.C. collision between a military helicopter and an airliner over the Potomac River and a Delta flight in Canada that flipped upside down. Although the number of plane-related fatalities has risen compared to the previous year, the number of overall crashes has decreased. The Trump administration has also reduced the FAA workforce by about 400 employees after the D.C. crash, and it was reported that Musk pushed the FAA's chief to resign just days before the fatal incident occurred.
Musk's Dogecoin-backed initiatives (DOGE) have mainly caused turmoil and dysfunction within government circles thus far. The initiative aims to cut down on federal employment and potentially eliminate entire agencies. However, the legality of DOGE's endeavors has been questioned by many legal experts, and some judges have begun inhibiting its activities. It remains unclear if the Republican-influenced federal budget will receive the necessary votes to progress, considering DOGE's impact.
The Democrats have retaliated, introducing a bill last Monday that seeks to revoke the executive order that established DOGE. The bill alleges that Musk violates laws and regulations governing his authority as a "special government employee."
- The FAA's collaboration with SpaceX involves testing Starlink's satellite network to improve telecommunications in remote areas like Alaska, which often struggles with reliable weather information.
- Elon Musk's Satellite network, Starlink, could potentially alleviate issues related to dependable weather information in regions like Alaska, as mentioned in the FAA's statement posted on Musk's site, X.
- The 2024 FAA Reauthorization mandates the FAA to improve telecommunications connections to cater to the needs of remote locations, like Alaska, which is why the FAA has been considering Starlink for boosting reliability at such sites.
- Bloomberg first reported that SpaceX would deploy over 4,000 Starlink terminals in 12-18 months as part of a partnership with the FAA, with one terminal already installed at the FAA's Atlantic City facility for tests.
