Elon Musk Seemingly Vows To Defend Earth If Russia Sends The ISS Hurling Toward The Planet
Musk has also enabled his Starlink services in Ukraine, giving citizens an alternate internet connection amid the chaos.
As TMZ reports, earlier this weekend, the South African-born engineer reacted to a Russian space official who “menacingly suggested the ISS could lose its trajectory and careen towards the U.S. or Europe if the Russians sabotage the craft.”
“The official suggested sanctions could trigger the move. Russia controls the engines on the ISS, and it can direct the trajectory accordingly,” the article explains. “If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States and Europe?” they asked on social media.
In response to this threat, Musk offered up a simple, but effective message – a SpaceX logo. When he came across other users discussing the interaction on Twitter, Musk confirmed that he meant that his company would be the one to save the planet, should Russia give us any further cause for concern.
The father of seven has also responded to Ukraine’s plea for help by sending his Starlink satellite terminals abroad, providing the country with an alternate internet connection amid the chaos.
Elsewhere in their rant, the Russian official reminded us that, “The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?” Seeing as it weighs in at 500 tons, we don’t think anyone is ready for the “risks” at hand.
At this time, NASA has said that “nothing is changing with respect to ISS operations,” although it remains unclear if Russia would even be able to pull off what’s been suggested online.
[Via]