The U.S. State Department has formalized a two-year partnership with SpaceX, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy Starlink satellite connectivity during international disasters and humanitarian crises. The agreement, announced on June 11–12, 2026, puts one of the world's most capable satellite networks directly behind U.S. foreign disaster response operations.
Under the MOU, the State Department's Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response will coordinate directly with Starlink to restore communications in areas hit by natural disasters and crises — getting connectivity to emergency responders, humanitarian organizations, and affected communities as fast as possible. The deal aligns with Starlink's existing Crisis Response initiative, which has already seen the network deployed in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and across multiple hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone events, including Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in September 2024.
The scale of the network backing this agreement is significant. According to Starlink, the constellation now comprises nearly 8,000 low-Earth orbit satellites serving over 12 million subscribers globally as of June 2026. For disaster zones where terrestrial infrastructure has been destroyed, that kind of coverage is difficult to match. Starlink's hardware lineup for emergency scenarios spans from the compact, power-efficient Starlink Mini to the ruggedized Performance terminal — practical considerations when aid workers are operating in the field with limited power.
This is the kind of government partnership that validates what Starlink has been building toward since its early deployments in Ukraine. Formalizing it with the State Department signals that satellite-based emergency connectivity is no longer a contingency plan — it's becoming standard operating procedure for U.S. humanitarian operations abroad. For more on SpaceX's expanding role, see our SpaceX coverage.
Sarah focuses on Tesla Energy, SpaceX missions, and the broader Musk AI portfolio. Former data analyst in clean energy. Based in San Francisco.
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