Kevin Morin’s Post

📓 An interesting read on alternative counter-space weapons published in the Space Review today.

«If #Russia does intend to place nuclear weapons into orbit, it may elect to do so with modified #ICBMs rather than with conventional launch vehicles. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, several ICBMs were converted into #spacelaunch vehicles, mainly to serve the needs of the commercial launch industry. None of these programs are currently active, but two are expected to be resurrected in the near future. (…) Recently, plans have also emerged for a mysterious missile named Bureya that seems to be very similar in concept to Start-1M. It is based on the MIT Corporation’s Topol-M or Yars #ICBM and is designed to be launched from the same type of transporter erector launcher. It can be outfitted with two types of ”kick stages” that may very well give it an orbital capability. According to environmental impact reports published in 2023, test flights of the missile will be staged from both Plesetsk and the Kapustin Yar test range near Volgograd. The payloads for these test flights will be either mock-ups or ”telemetry measurement systems”. No satellite payloads have been announced for any of these rockets so far. If they ultimately fly, they will undoubtedly be used mainly to place Russian military payloads into orbit and could potentially also orbit a #nuclearweapon, the very type of payload they were originally designed to carry. In that case, it would have to be delivered to a relatively low orbit given the limited payload capacity of these rockets». #spacepower

We don't think about the 10,000+ satellites orbiting our Earth, but they affect many things we take for granted in our daily lives ... disruption in these objects cluttering the space above our planet could be significant, and even deadly ... This article if very much worth at least a scan, IMO ... (Note: Scroll past the graphical intro to get to the full article.)

What one Russian satellite tells us about the future of nuclear warfare U.S. military personnel at Space Command, in Colorado Springs, have kept a close eye on Cosmos 2553 ever since it reached orbit. Bathed in the bluish glow of their computer screens, they sit and watch what’s going across all of space day after day, tracking the latest information on satellite constellations, coming rocket launches and the daily operation of the space-based systems that shape modern life. But Cosmos 2553 is different. It circles Earth every two hours in a region called a graveyard orbit. Only 10 other satellites are out there, and all of them have been dead for years. The area is rarely used in part because it’s inside the Van Allen belts, zones of high radiation that encircle the planet. That’s why Moscow claims Cosmos 2553 is there — to test out “newly developed onboard instruments and systems” against radiation. But what it’s really doing, U.S. officials say, is testing components for a Russian weapon under development that could obliterate hundreds, if not thousands, of critical satellites. Cosmos 2553 isn’t armed, but it does carry a dummy warhead, one of several details being reported here for the first time. So while the orbiting satellite poses no imminent danger, the officials caution it does serve as a forerunner to an unprecedented weapon.

🚀 Unveiling Cosmos 2553: Russia's Controversial Satellite 🛰️ Launched on February 5, 2022, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket, Cosmos 2553 is a Russian military reconnaissance satellite developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. It's believed to be part of Russia's Neitron radar system, aimed at enhancing the nation's remote sensing capabilities. Operating in a unique orbit approximately 2,000 kilometers above Earth, Cosmos 2553 has sparked international concern. U.S. officials allege that the satellite is linked to a Russian program developing a nuclear anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon. This weapon could potentially disable numerous satellites in low Earth orbit through a nuclear detonation, posing significant risks to global satellite operations, including commercial networks like SpaceX's Starlink. The Russian government maintains that Cosmos 2553 serves scientific purposes, focusing on testing onboard instruments under radiation exposure. However, the satellite's unusual orbital path and mission objectives have led to heightened scrutiny and diplomatic tensions, especially concerning the militarization of space and adherence to international treaties. Key Details: Launch Date: February 5, 2022 Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat Launch Site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/4 Orbit: Approximately 2,000 km altitude Inclination: 67.1° Mission Type: Military reconnaissance The deployment of Cosmos 2553 underscores the growing complexities of space security and the thin line between scientific advancement and military escalation. #Cosmos2553 #Russia #Satellite #SpaceSecurity #ASAT #Neitron #SpaceDebate #Starlink #SpaceX #MilitarySatellite #SpaceTreaty

Nearly six decades after the Outer Space Treaty banned military activities in space, its norms appear to be losing their power. In May, U.S. officials from the Defense and State Departments disclosed the possibility of Russia deploying a nuclear-detonation device into space, and that a suspected testbed satellite had already been in orbit for two years. China, meanwhile, has embarked on a campaign to expand its strategic nuclear forces beyond the numbers required for “minimum deterrence” and develop new delivery platforms, including a fractional orbital bombardment system. Story Continues Below Sponsor Message Chinese and Russian interest in space nukes derives from their expressed anxiety over the U.S. strategy of deploying large and widely dispersed satellite constellations, such as the Space Development Agency’s “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture,” as well as commercial networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink communications satellites. SDA Director Derek Tournear has described his agency’s “proliferation” as a game-changing strategy of resilience, using numbers and architecture to keep U.S. space networks working despite single-point attacks via kinetic, directed-energy, or electromagnetic means.

A tiered approach is the way forward. Reliance on satellite constellations will remain a weakness in the future and a failure point in conflict. The article highlights the growing concerns about space warfare as Russia and China explore the potential deployment of nuclear weapons in space. Both nations view U.S. satellite constellations as threats and are considering nuclear anti-satellite (ASAT) strategies to counter them. Russia’s focus appears to be on detonations in higher orbits to disrupt satellites over time, while China is exploring lower-altitude detonations with immediate effects. These developments challenge international norms and raise concerns about the potential weaponization of space, despite longstanding treaties prohibiting such actions. Learn more about or non-RF navigation system at www.msrsnav.com and give us a follow to stay up to date with new tech developments we are working on. #navigatewithconfidence #msrs #gps #gnss #jamming #spoofing #deniedgps #electronicwarfare #navigationwarfare https://lnkd.in/ghqDMziQ

US Space Force mulling nuclear protection for missile-tracking satellites - Defense News "The Space Force has launched a study to consider what capabilities to host on future satellites that detect and track advanced, high-speed weapons. Col. Rob Davis, who oversees space sensing acquisition efforts for the service, said...that as part of that work, the Space Force is weighing the right approach for ensuring such spacecraft can survive a nuclear threat." Calian Group provides satellite flight operations and support to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) at the CSA’s Multi-Mission Control Centre in St. Hubert, Quebec. Calian engineers and technicians carry out day-to-day satellite engineering, flight dynamics, spacecraft planning, real-time console operations and ground systems maintenance for the CSA’s current fleet of satellites, and prepares for future missions as they come online. Calian has a proven track record of delivering satellite operations across the lifespan of space platforms. For more about how Calian capabilities support defence space missions in Canada and around the globe, please click on Calian Advanced Technologies @https://lnkd.in/eBsQ8gYv and @https://lnkd.in/ePs6iWXr #defense #defence #spaceinfrastructure #spacesystems #intelligence #communications #threats Note: Articles posted or shared on this Calian Defence Solutions site are for informational purposes only. Any views or opinions expressed herein are those of the articles’ authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Calian Group. https://hubs.li/Q02KcBxK0

24 JUN 2024: “#US #Space Command Alarmed by Growing #Space Cooperation Among Adversarial Nations” Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, head of #US #Space Command, expressed concerns over increased cooperation in #space activities between #Russia, #China, #NorthKorea, and #Iran. Highlighted topics included instances of collaboration, such as a #Russian rocket launching an #Iranian satellite as well as #Russia-#China plans for a lunar #nuclear power plant. These actions and plans have raised security concerns as the countries align their #space and #military capabilities. The complexity of #space threats is growing, with #Russia testing #counterspace weapons and #China rapidly expanding its space capabilities. https://lnkd.in/e3mZyGBg

Industry News of The Week 🌟 ◾ Viasat wins $33 million U.S. Air Force contract for satellite communications antennas - https://lnkd.in/gBp--tTF ◾ Astranis Space Technologies Wins Space Force Contract to Add Military Capability to Omega Satellite - https://lnkd.in/eM5jBxve ◾ BlackSky Signs 7-Figure Deal With HEO to Collect Imagery of Objects in Space - https://lnkd.in/eY5dzYdz ◾ Lockheed Martin to Develop Lightning Mapper for NOAA GeoXO Satellites - https://lnkd.in/ey74RMxt ◾ Breakthrough confirms nuclear blast can deflect large asteroids headed towards Earth - https://lnkd.in/ex64VqXd What are your thoughts on these topics? Do any of these stories resonate with the challenges or opportunities you see in the industry? Let us know in the comments! #breakingnews #space #satcom #newsoftheweek #satellite #spaceexploration