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US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

bbc.com

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Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#121

Post by WarmWash »

tyrabound wrote: post #17

> China responded on Tuesday by warning against an "arms race" in space. > "We urge the US side to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space," AFP quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. Next up; America cries rivers of victimhood when Russia and China put their far more advanced space based weapons systems into orbit and 100x as many in response because the narcissistic man…

China and (maybe?) Russia are putting weapons up there no matter what.

People act like had the inventors of the powder explosive gun never used it, we would still be fighting with arrows and spears today. Completely not how it works.

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#122

Post by [deleted] »

_djo_ wrote: post #30
wewewedxfgdf wrote: post #6

As long as they're OK with China and other countries having space weapons then all is fine. Everyone is equal with - they all have nukes in space sitting over each other's countries waiting to drop. This is fine.

There have been detailed and credible claims of Chinese space weapons for some time now. https://media.defense.gov/2020/Sep/01/2002488689/-1/-1/1/202... https://www.ifri.org/en/studies/current-and-future-trends-ch... https://www.swfound.org/publications-and-reports/2026-global... https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01402390.2024.2... https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4431/1 https://www.uscc.gov/sites/de…

[deleted]

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#123

Post by dingaling »

MattPalmer1086 wrote: post #26
consensus1 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You actually think they don't already?

What would be the point? MAD relies on everyone knowing you can take them out if they attack you. What does a space weapon offer additionally that makes the huge expense worthwhile?

MAD is not military doctrine and never has been. It's a philosophical concept that arose in the mid 1960s and gained column-inches in the press because it had a cool and ironic name. Even McNamara rejected it.

USA, China and Russia all plan to fight and win wars, not go out in a blaze with the other guy. And that includes 'nuclear warfighting' which involves the ability to command and control nuclear exchanges and come out the other side victorious.

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#125

Post by bpodgursky »

jonkoops wrote: post #8

Space really should be a neutral ground like Antarctica. Especially since the consequences of space debris might trigger the Kessler effect [1], denying humanity future access to low-earth orbit for the considerable future. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome

I agree with the principle but Russia and China absolutely already have armed satellites in orbit, so that needs to be negotiated before unilaterally stopping.

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#126

Post by dhx »

nopassrecover wrote: post #46

Rather interesting timing after the US accused China of supplying Iran with high-res imagery used to support attacks on US bases, then a Chinese satellite mysteriously broke apart

Wouldn't it be possible to confirm who may be supplying imagery by taking some IRGC supplied imagery such as [1] and figure out which satellite(s) were overhead at the time and capable of taking the image? It may not be particularly straightforward to do so--but seems theoretically possible with:

- Consideration of time-of-day/azimuth of overhead satellite based on shadows and perspective.

- Comparison to other imagery of the same location checking for portable objects (such as vehicles) and keeping track of when they appear and disappear, and whether they're present in the imagery being analysed.

- Consideration of cloud coverage and weather conditions to rule out unwanted satellite passes.

Then write up a report and publish it, making it a believable and concrete finding instead of a finding that otherwise may just be perceived to be speculation/vibes.

[1] https://soaratlas.com/maps/asia-jordan-strike-at-u-s-aircraf...

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#128

Post by lr1970 »

mapt wrote: post #100
notahacker wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Realistically pretty much anything in orbit is a viable space to space weapon (for related reasons all space propulsion is ITAR controlled) so it was never practical to ban them. Space to earth, maybe, but that isn't unless it hits vague 'WMD' categories, and I'm not sure space to ground is necessarily what the US is declaring here. I suspect whatever capability the US is referring to is far more "counter space" than…

A bullet travels at a relative speed of about 250 to 1250m/s. A ~10g projectile moving that fast has an energy of 600-16000 joules. Everything in low Earth orbit is moving at 7600m/s. A ~10g projectile moving that fast has an energy of 580,000 joules. Getting hit by something moving that fast is roughly equivalent to getting hit by a whole ammo case of bullets at the same speed. There is no armor that can protect you…

> Everything in low Earth orbit is moving at 7600m/s. A ~10g projectile moving that fast has an energy of 580,000 joules.

What matters is the relative velocity of the projectile towards the target. I practice it will be smaller or larger (if the bullet is incoming). But steering an incoming projectile is way harder.

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#129

Post by bloak »

smackeyacky wrote: post #114
zenbane wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why culture is important to. You can't legislate morals and ethics.

We’ve seen this doesn’t work nearly as well as the homogeneous culture people would like us to believe. Ambrose Bierce nailed it (paraphrasing) the bible is an excellent book for your neighbour.

[flagged]

Re: US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons

#130

Post by nonethewiser »

MattPalmer1086 wrote: post #47
porridgeraisin wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you serious? Just because you have nuclear weapons doesn't mean all other forms of military are useless. I don't even know how to parse that argument to respond in more detail.

I was responding to this comment specifically about nukes: >Everyone is equal with - they all have nukes in space sitting over each other's countries waiting to drop

I think he was saying China already has weapons in space. Not necessarily nukes.
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