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US Military Plans Space Combat

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the try-to-get-hobbes-as-wingman dept.

MacDork writes "Wired news is reporting that the US Air Force has documented its plans to shoot down "commercial spacecraft, neutral countries' launching pads -- even weather satellites" should the need arise. From potential Chinese militarization of space to commercial spy satellites their reasoning seems obvious, but there are just as obvious consequences of such actions. Just glancing at the PDF, I don't see any plans for the aftermath..."

2 of 650 comments (clear)

  1. Nah. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    By international consent, space is demilitarized (at least until the pod people attack us, or whatever). I doubt the US can afford breaking any more treaties.

    1. Re:Nah. by ShieldWolf · · Score: 5, Informative

      You are incorrect.

      The 1967 Outer Space Treaty only restricts the use or deployment of WEAPONS of MASS DESTRUCTION (more info here ) in space. Conventional warfare is not restricted. What has kept everyone from weaponizing space is:

      a) It is expensive
      b) Soldiers, Ports, Airstrips and Radar stations are not found there
      c) The first nation to do it will be universally despised
      d) It is expensive

      Now however there are enough 'assets' in space that the US is beginning to fret that a space Pearl Harbour is a distinct possibility because of the military's (over) reliance on GPS and other satellite-based communication. Therefore the costs, both economic and political, are becoming less important to military thinkers.

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      just = (My)Opinion.toCents();