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The Dozen Space Weapon Myths

Posted by Hemos on from the look-up-project-avalon dept.

Thanks to Disowned Sky for finding a good debunking piece on space based weapon systems. Slightly disheartening, because I really want to have solar energy satellites that are also lasers. The article does a good job of looking further afield at nations besides the United States efforts in this area.

3 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hey look, just for Slashdot! by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As item 9 points out, the Soviets had continued nuclear space development in violation of a treaty that had been signed specifically to prevent them from doing that.

    See, that's the beauty of nuclear weapons. Once you have them, other nations are really no longer in any position to lecture you about developing them -- unless of course they're willing to enter into nuclear war over it.

  2. Re:Hey look, just for Slashdot! by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So much for that treaty. :-/

    Yeah, all of 'em.

    It seems from the story, and just pragmatism, the best option is to hope the folks who have the best weapons are the most friendly types. If the cold war is any lesson, the people with the most freedom create the best economic engine, and thus in turn the richest state, and then in turn again, the best weapons.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  3. Shorter Space Review... by sean.peters · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This article is highly amateurish and just about content-free. Shorter "Space Review":

    1. Myth: The US already has satellite killers.
      The Space Review: No they don't! (no citation given)
    2. Myth: The US wants to deny space to those it considers hostile.
      TSR: No they don't! (no citation given)
    3. Myth: The US is planning to place weapons in space for the purpose of ground attack.
      TSR: No they aren't! (no citation given)
    4. Myth: The US ballistic missile defense systems have the capability to shoot down satellites.
      TSR: So what, the Russians have the same capability!
    5. Myth: Tests of space based BMD systems also are preparations for an ASAT capability.
      TSR: Let's confuse the issue by only talking about boost-phase BMD intercept!
    6. Myth: The Russians have declared a moratorium on ASAT weapons testing.
      TSR: No they haven't! (no citation given)
    7. Myth: The Russian's "killer satellite" never worked very well.
      TSR: Yes it did! (no citation given)

    I stopped reading at this point. This whole article is nothing more than a fact-free propaganda screed. I can't believe Slashdot even bothered to post it... on second thought, yes I can.

    Sean