#Politics From #CNN: Elon Musk biographer Walter Isaacson walks back details of #Russia #Ukraine story in new bio released today. Isaacson admits he was mistaken about some of the details; Ukraine wanted #Starlink activated over Crimea port so they could use it to attack the Russian fleet.
Elon said no because "SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation."
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/media/walter-isaacson-elon-musk-reliable-sources/index.html
This gets back to my impression that Elon was afraid #Starlink being used for an attack on Russian targets would make #SpaceX a legitimate target for Russian retaliation.
Russia has been trying to figure out ways to jam or disable the Starlink network.
Should Elon risk his company's multi-billion dollar primary asset to help an American ally defend itself? Personally, I don't think there's an easy answer to that. He views Starlink as funding his Mars goals.
@WordsmithFL Everything he does is to achieve the goal of going to Mars and living there the rest of his life. Not sure why he can't toss himself into his rocket and go now.
@Hoi_Polloi23 Because the rocket doesn't work yet. Otherwise, there would be a long line of people willing to help him aboard. 😊
@WordsmithFL Which requires the NASA collaboration.
@Hoi_Polloi23 Mmm, yes and no ... NASA gave SpaceX a contract for a Starship variant to use as a lunar lander, but otherwise Starship is strictly a SpaceX production. I'm sure it's possible that SpaceX has used NASA research in development, but that's what NASA was created for.
If he does go, he'd need an FAA license. NASA wouldn't be involved.
@WordsmithFL So much for wishful thinking they would help him along.
@Hoi_Polloi23 He is leasing Pad 39A from NASA. Starship will launch from there. So they are helping in their own bureaucratic way. 😉
@WordsmithFL Thank you, NASA. :)
@WordsmithFL there’s an answer. This just became a national security concern. Nationalize that shit.
As for Walter Isaacson's "mistake" ... He's a well-established and respected biographer. I'm a rookie.
Even so, with the history book I'm writing right now, I have no problem with interviewees reading the first drafts. If they have an objection, I want to know it now rather than after publication.
I'm struggling with how to word a certain passage that makes an interviewee look bad -- deservedly so, but I don't want to ambush him. So I'm finding a way to let the reader judge instead of me.