4)Compliance with a space weapons ban is comparatively easy to monitor, because deployment of anti-satellite technology requires testing.
Actually, a space weapons ban is very difficult to monitor. How can you differentiate between a hostile attack and an errant bolt? How can you differentiate between harmful EM interference and a tech who accidentally configured his or her terminal incorrectly? Attribution is currently the most difficult part of enforcing any proposed space weapons ban.
So for the US, a space weapons ban is a no-brainer. The trick will be getting the Russians and the Chinese to sign on (at this point no one is suggesting a unilateral ban on space weapons and such a policy would obviously be inane from a national security standpoint.)
In fact, Russia and China regularly propose a space weapons ban to the UN Conference on Disarmament (CD). The U.S. is the only country to stand against Russia and China on this issue because they are the only ones with anything to lose.
Diamandis just recycled his business model from the International Space University (www.isunet.edu):
Executive Space Course - April 20-24, 2009 - ISU's 3-day short course.
Space Odyssey Institute - August 3-7, 2009 - "12-day short course is designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals from mid-level to senior leadership positions in the international aerospace community." Odd that it's not 12 days this year.
Space Studies Program - June 29-August 28, 2009 - 120 international students participate in a 9-week summer program. This year's host? NASA Ames.
Note that ISU also has a Master's Degree program at its main campus in Strasbourg, France. I can only assume that a Master's in the Singularity (Master's in Singularities?) is just around the corner.
Slashdot Mirror
4)Compliance with a space weapons ban is comparatively easy to monitor, because deployment of anti-satellite technology requires testing.
Actually, a space weapons ban is very difficult to monitor. How can you differentiate between a hostile attack and an errant bolt? How can you differentiate between harmful EM interference and a tech who accidentally configured his or her terminal incorrectly? Attribution is currently the most difficult part of enforcing any proposed space weapons ban.
So for the US, a space weapons ban is a no-brainer. The trick will be getting the Russians and the Chinese to sign on (at this point no one is suggesting a unilateral ban on space weapons and such a policy would obviously be inane from a national security standpoint.)
In fact, Russia and China regularly propose a space weapons ban to the UN Conference on Disarmament (CD). The U.S. is the only country to stand against Russia and China on this issue because they are the only ones with anything to lose.
Diamandis just recycled his business model from the International Space University (www.isunet.edu):
Executive Space Course - April 20-24, 2009 - ISU's 3-day short course.
Space Odyssey Institute - August 3-7, 2009 - "12-day short course is designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals from mid-level to senior leadership positions in the international aerospace community." Odd that it's not 12 days this year.
Space Studies Program - June 29-August 28, 2009 - 120 international students participate in a 9-week summer program. This year's host? NASA Ames.
Note that ISU also has a Master's Degree program at its main campus in Strasbourg, France. I can only assume that a Master's in the Singularity (Master's in Singularities?) is just around the corner.