The US Air Force allocated 29 million dollars for research and development in various companies, including Lockheed-Martin, with the aim of protecting American satellites from an attack from the ground, as demonstrated in the Russian test and the destruction of the American satellite last year
The USA, Russia and China today have the ability to shoot and damage satellites in the holiday orbit around the Earth. All of them have also demonstrated this capability and therefore we already know that the technology exists, and although it is still a difficult task, satellites are becoming more and more vulnerable to attacks from the ground. Now the experts estimate that anti-satellite technology will also reach countries with problematic regimes and terrorist organizations rich in funds, all that will be required are medium-range missiles, a team at the level of a bachelor's degree and basic but effective technology.
The US Air Force has begun to address this concern by investing $29 million in companies that will develop warning and defense systems in space. As you may remember in February of this year (2008) a missile from the US Navy ship Lake Erie hit a damaged spy satellite named USA 193. The mission was successful and the anti-satellite warhead collided with a fast moving target. Despite the difficulties, the US has proven technology to destroy targets in orbit around the Earth from the ground. This demonstration was interpreted by many as a response to China's damage to a weather satellite that had already stopped working, an event that occurred last year. The official reason was that the satellite carrying large quantities of the toxic fuel hydrazine would damage an inhabited area.
Whatever the reason, the US and China have shown their ability to destroy small targets moving at enormous speeds in orbit. Now the fear is that terrorist organizations or harsh regimes will develop even more terrible technology. According to US military experts, weather satellites and even satellite TV systems could be used as targets. All that is needed are medium range missiles carrying some type of crude warhead, as long as the warhead collides with the satellite or even explodes next to it, the satellite will be useless. Although it is not believed that terrorist organizations currently have any plans to intercept satellites, the US Air Force wants to ensure the safety of US assets in space.
The largest investment was in the development of self-awareness satellite systems (Self-Awareness Space Situations Awareness (SASSA) program) to be launched by 2010. The Air Force provided 29 million dollars to companies including Assurance Technologies and Lockheed-Martin Space Systems to begin designing the equipment and software necessary to alert and assess risks of harm. The goal was to identify the threats to the satellites and protect them from missiles and laser beams. The Air Force wants to be one step ahead of the enemy if it wants to disrupt the space interests of the USA.
More on this topic on the science website:
7 תגובות
I hope it will really succeed, but today that with a shoulder missile you can hit a satellite it will be a bit problematic
The US has not signed any agreement to preserve demilitarized space?
are you mad ? (referring to the author of the original article)
I'm currently studying for a master's degree in Elect Orbit Control OT and I don't feel like I'm close to a satellite damage level. I think physicists and aeronautical and mechanical engineers with bachelor's degrees won't help me much either.
will not harm
It is not feasible, the costs will be enormous.
In fact, harming the satellites that broadcast TV channels is not a bad idea at all.
Have you already seen the end of Big Brother and a star is born?