Spy satellites turn their gaze onto each other

SPY satellites have a new role: as well as watching us they are now spying on each other.

The Pentagon admitted last week that it is using two covert inspection satellites developed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to assess damage to a failed geostationary satellite - something no one suspected the US could do. If such satellites can get that close to a target, they could probably attack it.

www.newscientist.com...

Could future conflicts involve satellite to satellite warfare? DARPA seems to think so...

This made me think Iran has launched their first satellite

news.google.com...



I wonder if and how these covert inspection satellites will be used to inspect it?

[edit on 3-2-2009 by warpboost]

Originally posted by GrockIf such satellites can get that close to a target, they could probably attack it.

What? They're spy satellites. They don't have to get close to anything. They've got telescopes. On account of, you know, being intended for spying. Satellites don't tend to carry around a huge amount of fuel for changing orbits; just enough to maintain their intended orbit for their intended service lifetime. There's easier ways to attack satellites than bumping into them with existing satellites. Like missiles. Such as the SM-3 used to blow up a damaged US spy satellite a while back.

Kind of cool that spy satellites can be used for looking at other things than the earth. Makes me wonder how useful their optics would be for real astronomy.

Not too long ago China shot down one of thier own satellites. This was a clear message to the USA showinig that China has the ability to attack US interests in space. Also, the resulting debris field has made a 'cloud' hundreds of miles long partially interrupting other US satellites which was also China's intention.

Retaliating the same way would only mess with US and other countries satellites at the same time. Because the USA is always nice enough to do everything in thier power to cut down on collateral damage, constructing satellites that attack other objects in space would really be a big step in creating a space based weapon that minimizes collateral damage with minimal negative side effects, (like the garbage cloud that China created).