Final Skynet Satellite Launched

kamochan writes "If you are a fan of the Terminator series, this headline in BBC News sent shivers down your spine today. The idiots actually did it, the countdown has started! What the BBC claims the story is about: 'An advanced satellite that will improve greatly the ability of UK military forces to communicate around the globe has been launched into space.' Quite frankly, that sounds scary enough as it is, but why the heck did they have to name it Skynet?"

Comments

Skynet precedes Terminator

[clang_jangle]

The UK's use of the name Skynet precedes the Terminator movies.

Re:Skynet precedes Terminator

[Candid88]

http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/assets/channels/about/UK%20registry%20of%20Space%20Objects%202006.pdf
centaur.sstl.co.uk/SSHP/mini/mini60s.html
http://www.astronautix.com/project/skynet.htm

Whatever

[eebra82]

Quite frankly, that sounds scary enough as it is, but why the heck did they have to name it Skynet? As if the UK started using the Skynet name now? It's been in use ever since the launch of Skynet 1 in 1969.

Re:You're over a year too late...

[TurboTas]

Skynet started March 2007. Try again, this article was for Skynet5A. Clue is in the name ;-)

Funny, but...

[Thought1]

Admittedly, it's funny, but it's really just a communications satellite; they didn't put it in control of anything, and it doesn't have any neural net capabilities.

You want scary?

[Captain DaFt]

here's a few quotes from BBC:
"Software on the launch vehicle did not behave normally during a test sequence."
"The new system will enable British forces to make use of next-generation weapons systems, such as the recently introduced Reaper drones."
"This is made possible only by Skynet's ability to handle the drones' real-time video feeds."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7419751.stm
The only thing to add is... BOO!