Over the weekend, Elon Musk did his part to provide aid to Ukraine. The space enthusiast turned billionaire moved assets to allow his Starlink satellite network to provide internet service across Ukraine. It took less than 10 hours for him to deliver a critical infrastructure capability relatively impervious to Russian destabilization efforts.
In a war zone, internet service takes on a higher purpose. It’s no longer a tool of business and leisure, but rather a lynchpin of command and control. Encrypted data can allow commanders and subordinates to communicate clearly, improving both the effectiveness and timelines of their responses. It also allows the government access to another tool to empower their population to weather the storm.
Moving at the speed of human decency, Musk’s quick action caught the attention of the world this past weekend. Deservedly so. In a time when so many of us feel absolutely helpless to make a difference, it’s understandably invigorating to cheer on someone who can.
But musk’s greatest service to the cause of freedom isn’t what he accomplished this weekend. No. That achievement, in my book, occurred on December 21, 2015. You see, that was the first time SpaceX stuck the landing and returned a Falcon 9 booster to Earth for reuse.
A lot has been written about that landing. You’ve likely heard about how truly reusable craft will reduce the cost of spaceflight. In just over a decade we’ve seen the number of SpaceX launches surpass those racked up in the nearly 40 year stretch of the shuttle program. And over the course of the COVID pandemic, we witnessed SpaceX launch American astronauts, from American soil on American rockets – the first since the demise of that same shuttle program in 2011.
But back in December, 2015 is when Musk accomplished the first successful demonstration of concept that would allow his company to create a pathway for security in space. By developing rapidly deployable, inexpensive, and reusable craft he has introduced a never-before-seen set of capabilities into American aerospace. These capabilities bolster national security through resilience and domestic production.
Both of which undermine Russian influence.
In 2014, before that SpaceX landing, we were dependent on Russian tech. We used Soyuz craft to launch astronauts to the ISS and bring them home. Without the Shuttle we couldn’t service satellites. Replacements had to ride atop massively expensive single use vehicles like the Atlas V that used…and by my tone you could have probably guessed this…Russian engines. That same year, Russia invaded Crimea.
In response, the Obama administration pursued significant economic sanctions against the Russians. Some of those sanctions included aims to degrade the Russian aerospace industry. But in the post-shuttle era, that maneuver was severely undercut by our dependence on Soyuz rockets to reach the International Space Station. A defiant Russian deputy Prime Minister took the opportunity to send a pointed message on social media:
“After analyzing the sanctions against our space industry, I suggest to the USA to bring their astronauts to the International Space Station using a trampoline.”
Dmitry Rogozin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, via Twitter, 2014
On May 30th, 2020 Musk answered that challenge. With a successful launch of Demo-2, SpaceX was officially using one of those reusable, inexpensive rockets to do what no private company had ever done before – launch human beings to orbit. A feat still beyond the grasp of other private space companies. While others touch the edge of space, Musk gets us back to orbit – where the real work of spaceflight gets done.
But how did Musk mark the moment? With a solid one-liner:
“The trampoline is working.”
Elon Musk, May 30th, 2020
I wouldn’t describe Musk’s comment as petty. I think that once in a generation brain recognizes exactly how important his accomplishments are in the realm of national security. Maintaining peace in orbit is more critical than most realize. Communications, banking, navigation, shipping, and countless other industries rely on continued, uncontested, American access to space.
In the current conflict, that access is delivering infrastructure that no one else can to a people who need every edge they can get to stand against Goliath. In future conflicts, the capabilities Musk is deploying could be a deciding factor in protecting Americans and our national interest. Winning the modern space race is about more than bragging rights in our generation. A successful SpaceX could just be the X factor we need in a dark time.
So yes, Elon Musk is a national security treasure. By inspiring and equipping us to reach back up to the heavens, he’s helping us fight for our very survival – as a county and a species.
Part of the Possible 