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Table of Contents
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Space Object Tracking and Identification Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A. Non-Government Satellite Observers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
B. Optical Tracking and Imaging Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
C. Radar Tracking and Imaging Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
D. SIGINT and Passive RF Tracking and Characterization Systems . . . 17
IV. Offensive Counterspace Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A. Counterspace Denial and Deception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
B. Ground Segments Attack or Sabotage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
C. Non-Directed Nuclear ASATs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
D. Interceptor ASAT Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
1. Low-Altitude Direct-Ascent ASAT Interceptors . . . . . . . . . 26
2. Low- and High-Altitude Short-Duration Orbital
ASAT Interceptors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3. Long-Duration Orbital Interceptors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
E. Stand Off Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
1. Laser ASAT Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2. Radio Frequency (RF) ASAT Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3. Comparison of High-Power Laser and High-Power Microwave Weapons . 36
4. Particle-Beam ASAT Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
F. Electronic Attack on Communications, Data, and
Command Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
V. Impact of Counterspace Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
VI. Countermeasures—Strategies for Enhancing Survivability . . . . . . 41
A. Reliable Threat Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
B. Mobile Ground Control Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
C. Autonomous Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
D. Hardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
E. Proliferation-Redundant Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
F. On-Board Systems For Attack Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
G. Maneuverability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4
Threats to United States Space Capabilities
H. Rapid Reconstitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
I. On-board Decoys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
J. Self-Defense or Escort Defense Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
VII. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Originally posted by GonzoSinister
i thought there was some bill passed saying orbital space weapons were illeagal... worldwide... i will see if i can find such info again!
Originally posted by GonzoSinister
i thought there was some bill passed saying orbital space weapons were illeagal... worldwide... i will see if i can find such info again!