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Air Force Space Fence Being Shut Down

Posted by Soulskill on from the to-be-replaced-with-space-moat dept.

New submitter meglon writes "NASA will lose access to important real-time information on tracking orbital debris if the order of Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, is carried out. The Space Fence, the only monitoring system of its kind, will cease to function on October 1st. 'Deployed in the 1960s, the VHF Space Fence includes three transmitter sites and six receiving stations. It is responsible for approximately 40 percent of all observations performed by the Air Force-run Space Surveillance Network, which includes other ground-and space-based sensor assets, said Brian Weeden, technical adviser at the Secure World Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to space sustainability. ... A full-scale development contract for an updated version of the Space Fence had been expected in 2012 or early 2013, but on July 16, Shelton said the multibillion-dollar project is being held up due to a wide-ranging Pentagon review that includes major acquisition programs. The review is examining scenarios under which the Pentagon’s budget is cut by $150 billion, $250 billion and $500 billion during the next decade.'"

5 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Protect our borders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    You'd think that Republicans would be big proponents of the space fence. We need something to keep illegal aliens out.

    1. Re:Protect our borders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I've never seen a brown alien, maybe that's why the don't care. So we need to give aliens minority status before Republicans decide they don't want them here, just wait until they find out they don't even know what Christianity is.

  2. Don't panic. by bhlowe · · Score: 3, Funny

    It has been replaced by a newer, more secret and much more expensive system that also functions as an interstellar surveillance system.

  3. Re:I just had a brilliant idea by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just transfer all the money cut from the DOD to NASA. Then they can run it themselves! Genius, yes?

    No.

    The space junk which has slowly been taking on sentience, not unlike Hactar, will complain mightily in internet forums, where it'll largely be ignored (see earlier link.

    It'll all end up with songs which could make Paul McCartney so rich he could buy the galaxy and several short, but very violent cricket match invasions.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Re:Who wants a space fence by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Turn it into a space fence to keep out illegal aliens.

    Aliens are what keep the economy of Area 51 rock solid and giving it 10% quarter on quarter growth!

    at least, that's what they tell me to type

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar