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If Space-Based Solar becomes a thing and starts being used in war zones, then it seems almost inevitable that warfare will move in to space... and that could le

If Space-Based Solar becomes a thing and starts being used in war zones, then it seems almost inevitable that warfare will move in to space... and that could lead to a catastrophic chain reaction of exploding satellites (aka the Kessler syndrome[1]) leading to an impenetrable field of space junk around Earth, which will prevent or at least greatly delay further use/exploration of space. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome

TechBro8615 5y ago
How would space-based solar increase the risk of warfare in space more than space-based communications and geolocation infrastructure already risks it? Knocking out GPS satellites seems like it’d be nearly as effective as knocking out power-supplying satellites. I guess maybe the difference is there is redundancy in the GPS network – taking out one satellite wouldn’t do much damage, but with power supplying satellites I presume it would.
- Jeff_Brown 5y ago
  There's also a symmetry concern. All parties to any conflict would be using something like GPS. But if only one has access to SBS, the others have less to lose by taking the fight into space.
  - neltnerb 5y ago
    Of course, a country that can shoot down a satellite can probably already launch a nuke, if they have one. And they likely have a bunch of stuff in space as well. There are a few counterexamples, but they wouldn't be, for instance, Russia or China or the US. They'd be mad to do that over a power delivery system that they can utilize or hack.
  - JaimeThompson 5y ago
    The US Military can degrade GPS performance of a selected area while keeping the military encrypted accuracy at standard levels which they did during the Kargil War IIRC.
- jakear 5y ago
  Not all that difficult for a ground deployment to know where they are without GPS. You know (generally) where you started, what direction you’re headed, and how fast you’re going. Maps exist, and cartography is still taught. Not to mention things like astral analysis. Much harder to generate power from nothing in the middle of nowhere.
  - recuter 5y ago
    Dead reckoning is not appropriate for modern warfare and may result in death. Recent example would be Russians getting lost in Ukraine because the locals changed all the road signs.
    - jakear 5y ago
      War always results in death. My claim is the differential from losing GPS is less than that of losing power.
      - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
        Some weapons are GPS guided
ClumsyPilot 5y ago
Indeed, if your a fighting a near-peer adversary they can shoot d9wn what are probably fantastically expenaive space assets. And if you are fighting guerilla fighters it does not matter that you saved 5% of your logistics

TechBro8615 5y ago

How would space-based solar increase the risk of warfare in space more than space-based communications and geolocation infrastructure already risks it? Knocking out GPS satellites seems like it’d be nearly as effective as knocking out power-supplying satellites. I guess maybe the difference is there is redundancy in the GPS network – taking out one satellite wouldn’t do much damage, but with power supplying satellites I presume it would.

Jeff_Brown 5y ago
There's also a symmetry concern. All parties to any conflict would be using something like GPS. But if only one has access to SBS, the others have less to lose by taking the fight into space.
- neltnerb 5y ago
  Of course, a country that can shoot down a satellite can probably already launch a nuke, if they have one. And they likely have a bunch of stuff in space as well. There are a few counterexamples, but they wouldn't be, for instance, Russia or China or the US. They'd be mad to do that over a power delivery system that they can utilize or hack.
- JaimeThompson 5y ago
  The US Military can degrade GPS performance of a selected area while keeping the military encrypted accuracy at standard levels which they did during the Kargil War IIRC.
jakear 5y ago
Not all that difficult for a ground deployment to know where they are without GPS. You know (generally) where you started, what direction you’re headed, and how fast you’re going. Maps exist, and cartography is still taught. Not to mention things like astral analysis. Much harder to generate power from nothing in the middle of nowhere.
- recuter 5y ago
  Dead reckoning is not appropriate for modern warfare and may result in death. Recent example would be Russians getting lost in Ukraine because the locals changed all the road signs.
  - jakear 5y ago
    War always results in death. My claim is the differential from losing GPS is less than that of losing power.
    - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
      Some weapons are GPS guided

ClumsyPilot 5y ago

Indeed, if your a fighting a near-peer adversary they can shoot d9wn what are probably fantastically expenaive space assets. And if you are fighting guerilla fighters it does not matter that you saved 5% of your logistics