Microsatellites and Military Reconnaissance

I think that they should be banned agressively by the international community because of the pollution of the orbits round the earth: Low orbit = less room for satellites, and having an array at low orbits, even as small as these, constitutrs a hazard for normal trafic (aircraft) and a danger when they fall out. Also, they will interfere in radio communications and other communications by bouncing down unwanted signals that will cause interference. Seven Years! A multitude of them! ...

Uh, if you think that all of your concerns haven't been addressed already, then you really don't know the technology.

First, they are limited duration and built to disintegrate on re-entry. Thus, "less room" is not really an issue other than very short term, there is no danger on re-entry (either commanded or by atmospheric friction) as they are designed to vaporize, and their operational altitude, even in low earth orbit, is far above aircraft traffic.

Secondly, they already operate on secure military frequencies that cause little or no interference to commercial and private transmissions. If military comm was to interfere with other radion xmsn's, we would've noticed it years ago.

Hooker

Uh...

Hooker is right, the hazards you describe do not exist.

These are yet another powerful tool in the United States Defense toolbox.

http://defense-update.com/wp/20110330_roscosmos_israel.html

Ah, I see it may be placed in other toolkits as well. So, several countries see the value in such a system.

Space Denial Attack:

Perhaps conflict is first and foremost an economic endeavor. Although battles may be won with good tactics; wars are won by sustainable logistics; that is if there are really any winners. The metrics of victory are quite subjective when viewed in a historical context. Although the history books may be written by the victors; the victor's hold on that history has always been fleeting. I believe human history supports this position.

Every satellite crosses the equatorial plane twice each orbital period. Because of orbital precession; contaminate a single continuous highly elliptical orbital path on that single plane and it takes everything between the apogee and perigee of the attack orbit. It might take a little time but it fits the concept of "better no one than my enemy."

As non-intuitive as it may sound; if there is any battle space where the economics favor the underdog, space is it. Any nation capable of launching significant payload to a highly elliptical equatorial orbit can deny all of space to everyone. It requires no ability to intercept; only the ability to lift and disperse the payload.

Retrograde launches require significantly more delta V but since almost all the targets are pro-grade; the increased closing speeds would be worth the reduction in payload. How many launches would it take to begin the fratricide? Would each satellite destroyed add to the debris fields? Would trying to replace the assets mean just launching into the debris clouds?

Space based navigation/3CI is a wonderful thing in a peaceful world; but it all goes away quite quickly when engaging a space savvy enemy. It would be bad enough to lose the force multiplication of space system dependent tactical weapons; it would be catastrophic if it shut down our entire logistical base and if things go like I see them trending; in ten years or so our entire transportation system will be space system dependent.

How many nations will have rudimentary space capability in ten years? How about right now?

I know the folks calling the shots are neither ignorant nor intentionally careless; but I am not so sure they have not become so focused on what is in their hands that they fail to see what is in their path.

Perhaps our experts are in this thing for the money and our enemy's experts are in this thing to win.

Gavilan

Side note: In accordance with the 2010 DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard terminated the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals on 08 Feb 2010.

Well it is too late they have been flying already, Rafael is in Israel, USA & England do have them for several years -- some are set for short life some for long life and place in emergency situations.