What weapon could the US have put into space?
The US announcement of deploying a space weapon in Earth's orbit raises questions about military dominance, alongside moves by Russia and China.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The US announced the deployment of a space weapon in Earth's orbit
- Experts note the weapon could disrupt radio links and satellite communications
- Russia and China have engaged in proximity operations near Western satellites
- Russia utilizes ground-based and air-launched missiles to target satellites
The announcement by the United States that it has deployed a space weapon in Earth's orbit has raised questions about what weaponry is actually in space, and what role it could play in efforts by great powers to dominate that arena.
Advanced militaries already deploy satellites in space for a range of purposes, from supplying secure communications to reconnaissance, and providing precise location information for targeted strikes and detecting missile launches. As warfare becomes more technologically advanced, analysts expect the use of military hardware in space to increase.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Dr Bleddyn Bowen, an associate fellow in military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute and associate professor in astropolitics at Durham University, stated that he was only able to hazard a guess about the weapon announced by the US. Such weaponry already exists on Earth and can disrupt satellite communications.
"If you take out the radio links then your satellite is very useless."
Bowen also would not rule out some sort of more disruptive and riskier weaponry, which could create a lot of debris and destruction. He noted that less likely would be a kinetic kill vehicle designed to release a projectile and ram into a satellite to destroy it, or some sort of close inspection and grappling satellite.
The deployment of orbital weaponry marks a critical shift in global security, challenging long-held norms rooted in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Technologies such as Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPOs) blur the lines between peaceful civilian satellites and offensive capabilities, significantly escalating the risk of space debris accumulation and potential orbital conflict.
But while the weapon placed in orbit appears to be a first, the US, along with its Russian and Chinese rivals, has had weapons that can be pointed and shot into space for some time. In fact, over the past 10 years, Russia and China have performed numerous maneuvers known as rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs), essentially buzzing Western satellites.
According to Thornton, what Russia lacks in space weaponry and satellites, it makes up for in missile capability. The Russians possess ground-based missiles launched into space to strike satellites in low Earth orbit, alongside ASAT missiles launched from great heights by aircraft.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment