4 ms·

What is the message Russia sending? We will take down satellites coming over our land (e.g. starlink, competitors, foreign actors), is it trying to muscle rele

What is the message Russia sending? We will take down satellites coming over our land (e.g. starlink, competitors, foreign actors), is it trying to muscle relevance in the space program, is it trying to distract away from the problems with NATO vis a vis Belarus/Poland, or are they going to knock out some satellites and run into Ukraine with their large build up along the border. Or did someone from the military fire a rocket without think about the consequences because the military does that sometimes?

jacquesm 5y ago
The cost asymmetry translates into Russia not being able to do much against Starlink in space.
- jazzyjackson 5y ago
  what cost asymmetry? I assume the tactic would be Kessler syndrome: ruin the orbit for everyone
  - boringg 5y ago
    Right thats what I assume as well - though Russia plays unpredictable I don't believe it is as self destructive as it projects its image. They still wheel and deal like a traditional nation but add some dramatic flair.
    - jacquesm 5y ago
      It's a failed state at this point, a kleptocracy.
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    That would affect more than just that orbit, it would affect our ability to get into space at all.
    - pjc50 5y ago
      And? "We're willing to ruin humanity's ability to get into space for generations for short term political gain" is definitely the message.
_moof 5y ago
The message is "we're so nuts we don't even care if we have to kill our own cosmonauts just to fuck with you."
- quietbritishjim 5y ago
  Like: > The madman theory is a political theory commonly associated with US President Richard Nixon's foreign policy. Nixon and his administration tried to make the leaders of hostile Communist Bloc nations think he was irrational and volatile. According to the theory, those leaders would then avoid provoking the United States, fearing an unpredictable American response. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_theory
- simonh 5y ago
  This is probably actually it. The message is we are crazy, dangerous and not to be messed with because you can't predict how we will respond to anything you do. We don't care about consequences the way you do, so stay away from us and our interests.

jacquesm 5y ago

The cost asymmetry translates into Russia not being able to do much against Starlink in space.

jazzyjackson 5y ago
what cost asymmetry? I assume the tactic would be Kessler syndrome: ruin the orbit for everyone
- boringg 5y ago
  Right thats what I assume as well - though Russia plays unpredictable I don't believe it is as self destructive as it projects its image. They still wheel and deal like a traditional nation but add some dramatic flair.
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    It's a failed state at this point, a kleptocracy.
- jacquesm 5y ago
  That would affect more than just that orbit, it would affect our ability to get into space at all.
  - pjc50 5y ago
    And? "We're willing to ruin humanity's ability to get into space for generations for short term political gain" is definitely the message.

_moof 5y ago

The message is "we're so nuts we don't even care if we have to kill our own cosmonauts just to fuck with you."

quietbritishjim 5y ago
Like: > The madman theory is a political theory commonly associated with US President Richard Nixon's foreign policy. Nixon and his administration tried to make the leaders of hostile Communist Bloc nations think he was irrational and volatile. According to the theory, those leaders would then avoid provoking the United States, fearing an unpredictable American response. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madman_theory
simonh 5y ago
This is probably actually it. The message is we are crazy, dangerous and not to be messed with because you can't predict how we will respond to anything you do. We don't care about consequences the way you do, so stay away from us and our interests.