X-37B

[XabbaRus]

That would be weaponisation of space would it not? Something that is covered by treaties.

I'm sure the Russians would be happy if it was for that purpose.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

That would be weaponisation of space would it not? Something that is covered by treaties.

I'm sure the Russians would be happy if it was for that purpose.

Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.

[razark]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.

The Soviets put up armed space stations in the '70s. Check out the Almaz stations. They were armed with 23mm cannons, one of which was successfully tested against a target satellite.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by razark

The Soviets put up armed space stations in the '70s. Check out the Almaz stations. They were armed with 23mm cannons, one of which was successfully tested against a target satellite.

Yep! Earth's first [Dark Side]"Fully armed and operational Battle Station!"[/Dark Side]




But while such weapons are cool, cheaper alternatives exist. Last year the PRC directed two of its old satellites to collide with each other, sort of a poor man's ASAT. Thanks to them dozen of birds have to maneuvered around the debris for years to come.

[Turbografx]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.

Exactly. These would be conventional, tactical/precision warheads.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Turbografx

Exactly. These would be conventional, tactical/precision warheads.

In space the difference between conventional and strategic is very small.

We're talking about iron golf balls the deliver the equivalent damage of a 500lb bomb when they reach the ground. Imagine the payload bay of the shuttle loaded with them dropped over Beijing or Moscow!

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

In space the difference between conventional and strategic is very small.

We're talking about iron golf balls the deliver the equivalent damage of a 500lb bomb when they reach the ground. Imagine the payload bay of the shuttle loaded with them dropped over Beijing or Moscow!

Wouldent they have one hellua time getting that into orbit?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Wouldent they have one hellua time getting that into orbit?

Not really, just build a factory/rail gun in orbit at one of the Lagrangian Points to process ore from Luna to make Kinetic Projectiles. Put the unprocessed ore around it as armor in case of attack and power it with solar cells and the whole thing could be self sustaining as long as its fed ore.


........ yikes inadvertently I just described the Doomsday Machine at ate System L-374!