Putin calls Musk a 'real genius' as Russia and SpaceX coordinate satellite orbits

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elon Musk a "real genius" on Wednesday and said Russia is in close contact with him on satellite technology issues. Putin made the remarks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. Putin said Russia maintains close communication with American partners, including Musk, to ensure the Rassvet and Starlink satellite systems do not interfere with each other's orbits. He emphasized both sides value this cooperation despite political differences. SpaceX did not respond to BBC requests for comment. Starlink has launched about 13,000 satellites, while Rassvet has only a few dozen in orbit and aims to begin services in 2027. The comments come as US-Russia relations warm, with Musk recently admitting SpaceX deliberately disrupted Ukraine's Starlink service over alleged terms-of-use violations.