SpaceX References 'Broomstick' Jab At Starlink Launch, Mocking Russia

Daniel Mitchell-Benoit
Elon Musk standing in front of a black backdrop.
Getty | JIM WATSON

In the weeks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, we've seen a few instances of one particular American tech giant popping in to provide support to Ukraine, both in action and in scathing remarks against Russia online.

Elon Musk has been aiding the Ukrainian cause by providing Starlink internet and terminals to use it for the country. Meanwhile, back at home, he's taunting Russian officials by throwing insults right back at them.

The situation between Ukraine and Russia continues to develop.

A broom.
Unsplash | Magnus S

Earlier this month, during the first waves of sanctions against Russia amidst their invasion of Ukraine, chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Russia would no longer supply the United States with rocket engines.

He said, "Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don't know what."

America's current space-exploration trailblazer, Elon Musk, responded in kind.

In a reply to a tweet made by SpaceX, his own company, about their launch of 47 Starlink satellites, Musk replied with the tweet seen above.

And it seems he hasn't let that particular comment go, as SpaceX referenced it again just recently.

It was during another Starlink satellite launch.

A SpaceX rocket launch.
Unsplash | SpaceX

Just before the Falcon 9 rocket sent another 48 satellites into orbit, the company's unnamed launch director spoke during SpaceX's live stream of the event, saying, "Time to let the American broomstick fly and hear the sounds of freedom," a clear dig at Rogozin.

It's clear that Russia's withholding of rocket parts means little to America's private companies.

Elon Musk standing in front of a black backdrop.
Getty | JIM WATSON

And it's certainly not slowing them down any. This was SpaceX's 10th weekly launch in a row, and as of their most recent launch, the company has over 2000 Starlink satellites in Earth's orbit.

Musk's goal is to have a grand total of 42,000 Starlink satellites in space in order to provide the internet service to even the most remote locations.

h/t: Insider