An Arms Race Quietly Unfolds in Space
After warnings that Russia could put a nuclear weapon into orbit, the U.S. is ramping up its space effort. New York Times Podcast (Transcript)
Eric Lipton
Everyone I talk to from the Pentagon and also former Pentagon officials all agree that the United States maintains clear dominance in space. It has more satellites for surveillance, and missile targeting, and missile defense than any other nation.
Everyone I talk to from the Pentagon and also former Pentagon officials all agree that the United States maintains clear dominance in space. It has more satellites for surveillance, and missile targeting, and missile defense than any other nation.
Both the United States and China have moved in a really rapid way into a new domain, and that is low Earth orbit. That’s about no greater than 1,200 miles off the surface of the Earth, and it’s the area where SpaceX has put more than 5,000 satellites for its Starlink system.
That’s the focus right now is to flood that zone with lots of relatively-cheap, quickly-manufactured, easy-to-replace satellite systems. And the United States wants to put at least a thousand satellites into low Earth orbit for its military purposes in the next several years.
Among the many concerns that the American military has is that China is moving so rapidly right now to build out its own system that unless the United States really accelerates what it’s doing that soon China could be close to matching what the US has in space and that China now has enough surveillance capacity in space to target American military capacity in any type of a conflict.
Among the many concerns that the American military has is that China is moving so rapidly right now to build out its own system that unless the United States really accelerates what it’s doing that soon China could be close to matching what the US has in space and that China now has enough surveillance capacity in space to target American military capacity in any type of a conflict.
Imagine the scenario where China decides to invade Taiwan, and the United States decides that it’s going to help defend Taiwan.
If all of our military assets are immediately visible to China, they could be targeted even before they got to the Taiwan Straits or even before they got within range to have a military engagement. And simultaneously, China’s offensive space weapons were disabling American satellites so that the United States could no longer communicate.
That’s the fear that the military has right now is both of those things could suddenly happen if the United States is not building up its own space capacity and its space weapons to disable Chinese satellites.
Michael Barbaro
Got it. So the worry — and it’s very specific — is that if China can achieve the same level of military prowess in space as the US, then the US loses any power it has to deter China from doing something like invade Taiwan because we know and they know that we know that they can basically shut down our systems before and during that invasion and make it impossible for us to stop them.
Got it. So the worry — and it’s very specific — is that if China can achieve the same level of military prowess in space as the US, then the US loses any power it has to deter China from doing something like invade Taiwan because we know and they know that we know that they can basically shut down our systems before and during that invasion and make it impossible for us to stop them.
Eric Lipton
It would severely degrade military capacity if they could wipe out a good share of our satellites, and they’re racing to try to avoid that.
It would severely degrade military capacity if they could wipe out a good share of our satellites, and they’re racing to try to avoid that.
Michael Barbaro
So, Eric, what does it look like for the US to race to avoid China meeting America’s capabilities where they currently are? How does the US military do that? Obviously, it would need to either slow China down, or the US itself would need to speed up and race ahead of China.Eric Lipton
There’s two primary things that are happening right now. One is to build out US offensive systems to disable Chinese or Russian satellites. So that includes jamming systems — they just signed a new contract to build new devices that could jam Chinese or Russian satellites and disrupt their signals — laser systems that could destroy satellites from the ground or from space, and also other systems that they — just like the Chinese have built a tug in space, the United States potentially is going to build its own systems that could grab and disable other satellites in space.
The second piece of this plank is to build out a massive investment in space capacity by the United States, to build a whole new architecture in low Earth orbit, with hundreds, if not more than a thousand satellites that would be so many, so redundant that you couldn’t effectively disable the United States’ military capacity because even if you were to shoot out a certain number of them, there would be yet more of them, sort of like Starlink right now, the SpaceX Starlink.
So, Eric, what does it look like for the US to race to avoid China meeting America’s capabilities where they currently are? How does the US military do that? Obviously, it would need to either slow China down, or the US itself would need to speed up and race ahead of China.Eric Lipton
There’s two primary things that are happening right now. One is to build out US offensive systems to disable Chinese or Russian satellites. So that includes jamming systems — they just signed a new contract to build new devices that could jam Chinese or Russian satellites and disrupt their signals — laser systems that could destroy satellites from the ground or from space, and also other systems that they — just like the Chinese have built a tug in space, the United States potentially is going to build its own systems that could grab and disable other satellites in space.
The second piece of this plank is to build out a massive investment in space capacity by the United States, to build a whole new architecture in low Earth orbit, with hundreds, if not more than a thousand satellites that would be so many, so redundant that you couldn’t effectively disable the United States’ military capacity because even if you were to shoot out a certain number of them, there would be yet more of them, sort of like Starlink right now, the SpaceX Starlink.
If it loses a certain number of its 5,800 satellites, they just switch, and they rebuild the network among the remaining satellites. Basically, everyone knows that the next time there’s a major war, with a major power, that there’s going to be offensive activity in space, and both sides are preparing for that.
Michael Barbaro
Wow. What you’re clearly describing is a new space race, a space race that’s about which of these three global superpowers can take out the other’s satellites and use their satellites offensively and defensively to achieve military supremacy.
Wow. What you’re clearly describing is a new space race, a space race that’s about which of these three global superpowers can take out the other’s satellites and use their satellites offensively and defensively to achieve military supremacy.
Eric Lipton
Yeah, that’s right. I think that there’s a new space race that’s underway right now, and it is more intense than at any time since really the 1960s, when the United States and Russia were testing weapons in space for the first time. And it is very intense, and the increase in spending on space right now radically exceeds anything that the Navy, or the traditional Air Force, or the Army is doing. More dollars are pouring into space defense right now as a percentage increase. It’s more than any other part of the military.
Yeah, that’s right. I think that there’s a new space race that’s underway right now, and it is more intense than at any time since really the 1960s, when the United States and Russia were testing weapons in space for the first time. And it is very intense, and the increase in spending on space right now radically exceeds anything that the Navy, or the traditional Air Force, or the Army is doing. More dollars are pouring into space defense right now as a percentage increase. It’s more than any other part of the military.
Michael Barbaro
Eric, this makes me wonder, how much the US, in its efforts to do those two things you just described out in space, is ultimately reliant on contractors, the private sector, and in particular Elon Musk, right, this guy who has put so many satellites up in the sky but whose mercurial and unique, to put it diplomatically. So is the US’s plan for staying ahead of both Russia and China to ultimately put more and more power in the hands of Elon Musk?
Eric, this makes me wonder, how much the US, in its efforts to do those two things you just described out in space, is ultimately reliant on contractors, the private sector, and in particular Elon Musk, right, this guy who has put so many satellites up in the sky but whose mercurial and unique, to put it diplomatically. So is the US’s plan for staying ahead of both Russia and China to ultimately put more and more power in the hands of Elon Musk?
Eric Lipton
Right now, there’s no question that SpaceX and Elon Musk plays an extraordinarily dominant role in the ability to launch to orbit, and the military is excessively reliant on SpaceX.
Right now, there’s no question that SpaceX and Elon Musk plays an extraordinarily dominant role in the ability to launch to orbit, and the military is excessively reliant on SpaceX.
So at this moment, it’s an uncomfortable domination by SpaceX. Of the 9,400 objects in orbit right now, 5,235 of them are SpaceX Starlink satellites. So almost all of the satellites in orbit from any nation in the world are Elon Musk. But the Department of Defense realizes that it can’t be so reliant upon one company for launch. And so the Pentagon is also signing contracts with small launch companies to quickly be able to put military satellites into space, with just a few days notice.
Michael Barbaro
Wow.
Wow.
Eric Lipton
And so there’s a lot of money that’s being spent to build out this capacity.
Michael Barbaro
Right. So what you’re really saying is that this new space race is going to come with and foster a new space military industrial complex that’s going to be the recipient of many billions, maybe trillions of dollars in taxpayer money.
Right. So what you’re really saying is that this new space race is going to come with and foster a new space military industrial complex that’s going to be the recipient of many billions, maybe trillions of dollars in taxpayer money.
Eric Lipton
That’s right. The United States is already in the middle of an incredible explosion in the commercial space industry because the number of commercial launches is growing at a really crazy rate. And in the entire world right now, there are approximately 10,000 objects in orbit. And within the next 10 years, the expectation that it’s going to be something like 25,000 satellites in orbit. So there’s a huge boom right now in the space industry globally.
That’s right. The United States is already in the middle of an incredible explosion in the commercial space industry because the number of commercial launches is growing at a really crazy rate. And in the entire world right now, there are approximately 10,000 objects in orbit. And within the next 10 years, the expectation that it’s going to be something like 25,000 satellites in orbit. So there’s a huge boom right now in the space industry globally.
To listen to the entire Podcast, click on link below: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000647376326
10 comments:
Know your rights which Estela Chavez – Vasquez does not. you have an absolute right to observe criminal proceedings. I will file a mandamus against her on the issue and seek and immediate withdrawal of her as a judge. It is no secret I opposed her as incompetent. She is so incompetent agreed the court appointed attorney did nothing wrong in securing the statement of the eyewitness who told the apartment manager there was no crime. It the witness is lost, the defendant will be denied a fair trial, which is what Estela wants.
The courtroom was at least half empty, so it was not a space issue. In the sister civil suit which we won with a visiting judge the second she saw me she recused herself.
Estela is going to learn the constitution still matters and she will be punished.
"You have the same First Amendment right to attend all stages of criminal trials as you do in federal court. See Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555, 580(1980). This includes the preliminary hearing and the jury selection process.
You may be denied access to the courtroom if there would otherwise be a serious and imminent threat to the administration of justice. For example, the court may exclude you if the media's presence will deprive the defendant of her right to a fair trial because media coverage will influence the jury. However, if the trial court closes the proceeding, the closure must be no broader than necessary to protect the interest of the accused and closure must be an effective way to protect the accused's rights. There must be no alternative available other than change of venue. See generally Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Ct., 478 U.S. 1 (1986)."
She banded 4 family members who had to wait in the hall.
Man has raped mother earth by polluting her once pure water, fresh unpolluted air and uncontaminated soil. If that was not enough now we’re going to pollute space and other worlds. Maybe it’s time for mother earth to cleanse her self by eradicating mankind, the worse animal to roam the earth.
Destroying Earth to get to Mars
Elon Musk is on the goverment's teta. He even contributed to waste in space. Going to live on Mars is a death trap and Elon knowsthis...however if he does go over there he should take Trump, Putin, and Kim Jong Un with him. The world would just be a much better place without them.
ALL YOU PENDEJOS VOTED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE HIM YOU LANDS SO DON'T COMPLAIN. GO SEEK ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE CAUSE THIS ONE IS GOING TO HELL. VOTE FOR ALL OF THEM AGAIN AND DON'T COMPLAIN
*** Elon Musk is lashing out at MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' ex, for donating billions to charities for women and minorities.
Musk claimed that women such as Scott were why Western civilization was doomed.***
Wow !! this guy criticizing this woman, while our local politicians, mainly minorities, bent the knee to him and let him take over.
@ March 7, 2024 at 1:23 PM
The only look Musk saw on the politicians faces was the salivating thirst of money for their pockets. They bowed to him and paved a red carpet to whatever he wanted to grasp. Musk played them, while they abandoned the people they should've represented.
~Destroying Earth to get to Mars~
In regard to Mar. 7, at 1:23 p.m. you accuse who as pendejos? Who are the pendejos who voted? It is obvious that it wasn't the local Cameron County residents. It was our so-called elected local and official political leaders such as Commissioners Sofia Benavides and David Garza, and especially County judge Trevino, Both Eddie Lucio, Carlos Casco, former Governor Rick Perry, Filemon Vela, and Rene Oliveira who was the author of H.B. 2623 knew of the conspiracy to sell the public Boca Chica beach and cover up the deal, and let's not forget that they got the blessings of General Land office George P. Buch to complete the deal. My opinion is that many and I mean local voters who voted for these Bastardo's are mostly illegal immigrants, who will get a free ride. If the legal residents of Cameron County had known ahead of the conspiracy deal, would we have voted to allow Elon Musk to STEAL our beach? That is the conspiracy doing corrupt set-up deals with the rich for a profit and NOT sharing crucial land deals with the Public, the very people who we entrusted them to do good for us. Why did they conspire again on March 5, 2024, to doing the land swap? The deal was done in 2013 that's 11 years ago. Idiots is what they are, and they got caught with their hand in the Billionaires cookie jar This is my opinion.
@ March 8, 2024 at 8:18 AM
Anyone letting this happen, voters and politicians should be held responsible. Many politicians run for office, with a hidden agenda, and their friends and family become an entourage to vote them in. People please "Wake Up"and look at their history. I will not vote for anyone, because they are my friend, my party or give away food plates. I will research what you have done , who you are affiliated with, being PUB, CITY, COUNTY, BISD and PORT. If anyone you are connected to has done shady stuff in politics, appointed boards, I will not vote for you. With a lot of you "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"!
March 7, 2024 at 1:23 PM
If you dangle a candy in front of a child and tell him not to eat the candy cause he will become fat as a pig, do you think he'll listen to you? of course not. That's why there are a lot of elected political and millionaire/billionaire fat pigs.
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