if so, did you check out the latest one (I just got it in the mail): July 2001?
check out page 23 and tell me what you think.
check out page 23 and tell me what you think.
Who here gets Popular Science?
- Thread starter Soccerman
- Start date
I guess I could quote part of the news..
'Under pressure from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and a Space Commission Report critical of its efforts to date, the U.S. Air Force is being told, in so many words, to "use it or lose it." If the Air Force doesn't quickly develop a battle plan for protecting space-based assets like satellites, the Pentagon is threatening to create a space force with independent funding.'
Where is the threat?
Are they preparing for war?
Why do they feel so threatened?
'Under pressure from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and a Space Commission Report critical of its efforts to date, the U.S. Air Force is being told, in so many words, to "use it or lose it." If the Air Force doesn't quickly develop a battle plan for protecting space-based assets like satellites, the Pentagon is threatening to create a space force with independent funding.'
Where is the threat?
Are they preparing for war?
Why do they feel so threatened?
rudder
Lifer
- Nov 9, 2000
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Where is the threat?
Are they preparing for war?
Why do they feel so threatened?
There is not threat of war. But think about it. More and more countries like China are now capable of launching things into space. Imagine if we lost some key satellites like the ones that make up the global positioning system. Not only does the military use those, but commericial aviation has started to rely on it more heavily in recent years. There should be some plan in place to protect those satellites.
Are they preparing for war?
Why do they feel so threatened?
There is not threat of war. But think about it. More and more countries like China are now capable of launching things into space. Imagine if we lost some key satellites like the ones that make up the global positioning system. Not only does the military use those, but commericial aviation has started to rely on it more heavily in recent years. There should be some plan in place to protect those satellites.
Yes, there's a recent article in the Air Force Times about using aircraft to replace jammed GPS satellites in the event of a conflict. Plus, since the Soviets used to have explosive satellites for taking out American spy birds, there needs to be something up there to protect some very important assets.
An independent space agency will be formed at some point. As it is, SPACECOM is nearly like an independent branch which is composed of all branches of the military, and they wear their own uniforms. I saw something about Vandenberg AFB recently (think it was), and they were all wearing flight suits, basically -- looked weird.
Too bad, though, because it would be nice if USAF received all that money.
An independent space agency will be formed at some point. As it is, SPACECOM is nearly like an independent branch which is composed of all branches of the military, and they wear their own uniforms. I saw something about Vandenberg AFB recently (think it was), and they were all wearing flight suits, basically -- looked weird.
Too bad, though, because it would be nice if USAF received all that money.
I don't know if it's the same issue, but I just read the article about warp speed.
Did you see the little bar on the bottom comparing light speed with man made objects?
It says at the end that light goes (I don't remember exactly) 6.609 trillion MPH.
That's totally wrong. It goes 6.609 trillion miles a year.
Did you see the little bar on the bottom comparing light speed with man made objects?
It says at the end that light goes (I don't remember exactly) 6.609 trillion MPH.
That's totally wrong. It goes 6.609 trillion miles a year.
all I know about the speed of light, is that it's 3*10^8 meters a second.. I don't want to bother converting it.
So, the United states is pretty much starting another arms race then eh? is this good or bad?
btw this is all pointless, IMHO, because of new technology being developed around the world. why take out the satellites, when you can quickly shoot a missile like that underwater which will pop up over land and hit it's target before anyone knew what was happening..
So, the United states is pretty much starting another arms race then eh? is this good or bad?
btw this is all pointless, IMHO, because of new technology being developed around the world. why take out the satellites, when you can quickly shoot a missile like that underwater which will pop up over land and hit it's target before anyone knew what was happening..
<< all I know about the speed of light, is that it's 3*10^8 meters a second.. I don't want to bother converting it. >>
I dunno bout in meters, but in feet it's 186,000 ft/sec
You misunderstand the reason for projectin US power into space. While the anti-ballistic missile system is something that is being directed into space, the critical goal right now is the protection of US satellite assets that are in orbit. The US is relying more and more on communication and surveillance satellites, not least of which is the GPS system (plus the whole KH- line of spy satellites). If the US military were to lose those systems, it would be severely hampered in its operations. The refocus of priorities into space is a logical extension since our enemies are undoubtedly working on ways to attack those very same critical satellites.
Why everyone calls it a "space arms race" is beyond me. There is little talk right now of orbital weapons platforms. The time will come when that will happen because as long as there's conflict, there will be weapons. If countries are in space, they will deploy weapons to defend themselves. What should the U.S. do? Wait for our satellites to become vulnerable and THEN do something about it? That's about as dumb as you can be.
Why everyone calls it a "space arms race" is beyond me. There is little talk right now of orbital weapons platforms. The time will come when that will happen because as long as there's conflict, there will be weapons. If countries are in space, they will deploy weapons to defend themselves. What should the U.S. do? Wait for our satellites to become vulnerable and THEN do something about it? That's about as dumb as you can be.
Why everyone calls it a "space arms race" is beyond me.
because that is essentially what is going to end up occuring when the US continues these actions.
could it be that Bush is simply trying to boost the economy by spending major $$$ on R&D for technology?
because that is essentially what is going to end up occuring when the US continues these actions.
could it be that Bush is simply trying to boost the economy by spending major $$$ on R&D for technology?
Instead of replying to that one small sentence, why don't you try tackling the rest of the issues I raised? Particularly focus on the last question in the second paragraph.
Space is already being used for military purposes. Get over it.
Space is already being used for military purposes. Get over it.
I read and understand your previous post, I'm just wondering about what you think on something!
why would I bother attacking you, or your post, when I understand what you mean behind it! and the responce I posted doesn't only reply to that one tiny sentence, but rather the whole post.
why would I bother attacking you, or your post, when I understand what you mean behind it! and the responce I posted doesn't only reply to that one tiny sentence, but rather the whole post.
Sorry, Soccerman, didn't mean to jump down your throat. I was a little edgy after reading some other topics.
Seriously, though, space is ALREADY populated with military hardware in the form of spy satellites and communications satellites. The protection of those assets is essential to effective military operations on Earth, if the U.S. is to maintain technological advantages over its adversaries. If our enemies develop methods of challenging our assets in space, and we have no defense, we are putting our servicemen in danger. The time to develop technologies for such defense is now, BEFORE we have credible threats to our satellites (which intelligence says our enemies are developing).
I don't think it's Bush's intention to boost the economy through military spending. I think Bush, and many others, rightly feel that the US military needs some redirection and more funding to rectify some of the problems that were allowed to fester during the Clinton years. The refocusing of strategy into space and into rapidly deployable forces points to a change in administration thinking on defence and not to economic policy. A favorable byproduct of such a reformulation of US military strategy could indeed be a boost to the economy by increasing the defence contracting sector, but I seriously doubt that that is the primary goal.
Seriously, though, space is ALREADY populated with military hardware in the form of spy satellites and communications satellites. The protection of those assets is essential to effective military operations on Earth, if the U.S. is to maintain technological advantages over its adversaries. If our enemies develop methods of challenging our assets in space, and we have no defense, we are putting our servicemen in danger. The time to develop technologies for such defense is now, BEFORE we have credible threats to our satellites (which intelligence says our enemies are developing).
I don't think it's Bush's intention to boost the economy through military spending. I think Bush, and many others, rightly feel that the US military needs some redirection and more funding to rectify some of the problems that were allowed to fester during the Clinton years. The refocusing of strategy into space and into rapidly deployable forces points to a change in administration thinking on defence and not to economic policy. A favorable byproduct of such a reformulation of US military strategy could indeed be a boost to the economy by increasing the defence contracting sector, but I seriously doubt that that is the primary goal.
If our enemies develop methods
what enemies?
by any chance, do you know why they are your enemies?
I know you're protecting your assets, the problem is the fact that you have to protect them in the first place.
what enemies?
by any chance, do you know why they are your enemies?
I know you're protecting your assets, the problem is the fact that you have to protect them in the first place.
Perhaps enemies is a strong word -- how about adversaries? I consider the PRC an enemy now though, as I suspect do many in the military after what they did.
In any event, the US has many adversaries around the world -- PRC, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, quite a few other countries. There are also groups which hate the US -- Hezbullah, Hamas. North Korea and China are actively working on their space programs and missile systems -- North Korea is currently working to deploy a missile capable of hitting Alaska and only about 600 miles short of range to hit the US mainland. China has launched satellites and could therefore easily launch an offensive weapon intended to take out US satellite assets.
As for the philosophical aspects of "everyone doesn't get along in the world", I deal in practicalities, not in feel-good "let's make up with everyone" issues.
In any event, the US has many adversaries around the world -- PRC, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, quite a few other countries. There are also groups which hate the US -- Hezbullah, Hamas. North Korea and China are actively working on their space programs and missile systems -- North Korea is currently working to deploy a missile capable of hitting Alaska and only about 600 miles short of range to hit the US mainland. China has launched satellites and could therefore easily launch an offensive weapon intended to take out US satellite assets.
As for the philosophical aspects of "everyone doesn't get along in the world", I deal in practicalities, not in feel-good "let's make up with everyone" issues.
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