Gravity Well Topical Discussions

Topical Discussion Threads Numbered below:

 

 

1. A initial set of space warfare topics to discuss; these include:

 

1. China is the obvious and probably only potential nation whose current capabilities warrant consideration when planning how the US policing function, including space warfare, needs to be accomplished.

2. Optimum constellation to control the L-1 Region; mixture of different types of satellites/spacecraft

3. How does a US force have accurate Situation Awareness in the Gravity Well?

4. How does the US have the Political Will to enforce a "No-Fly" zone in the L-1 Region?

5. How to maximize high maneuvers of space assets for a successful battle

6. Who creates, prioritizes the Target Plan (So few shots, they must all count!)

7. Readiness for post-conflict political impacts on Earth

8. Qualifications which determine a Winner in a space battle/war

9. Requirement to limit space debris helps dictate/configure offensive weapons

10.How to prevent a loser(s) from rebuilding space assets.  The role(s) of inspections/penalties.

11. Design, deployment and use of low cost "Microsats" as mines to take out $1B spacecraft(s).   Best way to jam/obscure antennas

12. Coordinated large-scale attacks can be completed in less than two days depending upon targets and distances

13. Initiator has the best chance to win any battle; Enemy Command & Control can't react in time.

14. In space, weapons are easily disguised: bomb or missile on a commercial communications satellite

15. Are decoys deliberately orbited because finding and reaching the real target(s) is key

16. Space Warfare will be so quick, public opinion will be too little, too late

17. An aggressor can not count on Allies: Few assets, little C&C and no political will

18. All treaties are ignored; a waste of time and resources

19. An aggressor must have world-wide satellite ground control stations for data from relay satellites

20. Defense of a satellite is impossible: armor is too heavy, too costly and has a low probability of use

21. The role of Artificial Intelligence in Situation Awareness may be critical

22. Because of the limits of Command & Control, avoidance maneuvers have little or no chance of success

23. There is no human/person/genius in space warfare in the world today

24. after strategic placement in the gravity well, probably next of importance in space warfare strategy formulation is obtaining and preserving fuel for manuvering and other purposes; can water/steam from the moon be an effective source of such fuel thereby affording US space based assets a powerful force multiplier?

24. An historical first:  A war without casualties!

 

2. Space-based Laser Weapons Intended to strike Earth Targets

 

These have been quite popular in concept; however:

 

Research indicates that any form of a space-based laser (SBL) would be a disaster!  Logic follows:

-Huge LEO target known to adversaries

-Unavailable power requirements: 25,000 watts would require a nuclear reactor or a solar cell field of 500,000 cells in huge, unstable football-sized arrays

-Focus mirror of at least 25-35-foot diameter

-Suitable platform stabilization technology does not exist

-Useful only if the target is sensed in time, close enough and not rolling (like a BLM)

-7-year longevity questionable due to space bombardments and hot-cold cycles

-Too large to launch on an ELV

-Too large to be assembled on orbit or on the Moon

-Unacceptable Probability of Kill; less than 3% (Must lase on same spot for 5 seconds with both the Laser and Target traveling at 18,000 MPH at a distance of at least 20,000 kilometers.)

-Cost prohibitive for any nation.

 

3. Satellite v. Satellite Platforms and Weapons

The Current thinking about space warfare in the near-earth spaces seems to be revolving around 2 basic offensive concepts: (1) drone swarms and (2) microsats.

a. A novel Microsat (less than 500 pounds) is a current proposed weapons platform by one of this site's authors. It is actually two spacecraft on a central carriage.  One of the satellites deploys solar arrays for at least 540 watts.  It powers the other satellite which contains a payload (Bomb, RF, Obscurant)  which could be jettisoned from the L-1 based  C&C command station, from the Moon, or a AI-based platform in geosynchrous orbit.  

 

To build on the naval warfare analogy, think of the microsat as the vertical launch cell on a USN Destroyer. The replenishment of the payloads by AI driven drones parked at L4 or L5 having more of the payload satellites makes these reusable platforms low cost and highly effective. Each platform spacecraft (aka US Destroyer and its launch cell)  could be named after a US Admiral or Marine General.

 

b. Excellent Article on Satellites in relation to this site topics of interest 

 - please access Andrew Ericson's 2-page summary of the world today at (https://www.andrewerickson.com/2024/09/china-adds-hundreds -of-satellites)

 

c. In a recent Q&A forum at the US Military Academy (West Point) Elon Musk stated that his satellite network employs its own GPS system, has unbreakable and unjamable communications, and has onboard, low power lasers. These are obviously important developments in space warfare, as these capabilities are an order of magintude leap in US controlable space capabilities.

 

4. ICE Frontier by Jason O'Neil; one of our site Founders

Russia’s Ice Curtain
The Cold War with its Iron Curtain ended late in the 20th century.  As a result, Russia’s economy rebounded as did the country’s participation in international affairs.  After America retired the Space Shuttle, Russia played an important role with dozens of Soyuz rocket launches to deliver astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station. 
 Recently, NASA has relied on commercial companies to provide these services.  As a result, Russia’s space programs have declined with only planning efforts with the Chinese to initiate Moon-based and Deep Space research.  In 2023 Russia invaded the Ukraine to reclaim territory rich in rare Earth minerals and agricultural crops.  This war has drained Putin’s treasury such that Russia’s space activities are primarily an element of a new Ice Curtain in the Arctic.
Today, while the war in Ukraine has dramatically slowed Russia’s Arctic initiatives, the country continues to assert its claim to large portions of the warming 3,500-mile canal between the East and West.  It drops weighted flags to the bottom to claim the territory.  More than projecting military power, Russia plans to use the frozen territory for the following purposes:
-Control all shipping, much like a Panama or Suez Canals
-Spy on NATO with LEO satellite constellations
-Mine the subsea resources with claims on 30 mining areas and 12 oil and gas regions. (Experts predict the oil reserves are one-third of the global total.  Ironically, Russia has slowed its exploration due to the collapse of the price of oil due to Russia’s attacks on Crimea thereby pricing Artic oil out of the market.)
However, the country has constructed 475 military installations along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).  They are currently reopening 30 previously closed sites.  Putin’s objective is to control the seaway from Murmansk to the Bering Sea, only 600-miles from Alaska.  The country has the largest icebreaker fleet in the world.  It has dozens of radar sites from Kolotny to Wrangel Island.  Other military initiatives include:
-Launch sites for the ZIRCON hypersonic missiles which at can reach New York City in less than forty minutes.
-Control of the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, complete with a dozen nuclear-powered submarines
-Modernization of the NAGURSKOYE Air Base 800-miles north of Murmansk
-Increase their Surface-to-Air (SAM) S-400 missiles at the ROGACHEVO Air Base
-Build a new submarine base on the Kola Peninsula to enable quick responses with nuclear-tipped ICBMs
And in Space, recent rocket tests at the PLESETSK Cosmodome prepare the facility for the launch of ARKTIKE-M reconnaissance satellites in LEO orbit.  These satellites can be maneuvered, indeed slingshot, into western satellites or positioned nearby for jamming and cyber disruption purposes.  A potential target is SpaceX’s Starlink constellation for Internet connectivity.
Finally, all of the above Russian LEO actions can be enhanced by orbits in the Gravity Well which provide holding stations prior to attacking targets in orbit or on the Moon.  However, it remains to be seen how effective the Ice Curtain will be both commercially and militarily due to the nation’s dwindling treasury while both America and China explore the utility of the NSR.