Putin Affirms Ongoing Communication with Elon Musk on Satellite Projects

During a recent address, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is in ongoing communication with Elon Musk about low-Earth-orbit satellite systems. This announcement came on October 28, amidst the backdrop of political tensions between Russia and the West.

Putin praised Musk as a "man of genius" and emphasized the importance of maintaining order in space, particularly with respect to satellite operations. Although he did not specify whether the discussions were focused on Musk's Starlink project or another satellite initiative, he acknowledged the relevance of low-orbit satellite networks in supporting communication and internet services.

At the same time, Russia is developing its own satellite network, Rassvet, which is seen as a competitor to Starlink. Rassvet's first batch of satellites was launched earlier this year, with plans for further expansion. Meanwhile, India is also entering the market with Reliance Jio's satellite project, which aims to deploy approximately 1,600 satellites.

Putin's remarks were made during the Russia-Africa summit, where he highlighted the need for collaboration with international partners, including Musk, to ensure safe and disciplined operations in space.