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Physically destroying one Starlink satellite is pointless as it wouldn't meaningfully disrupt service. Destroying enough Starlink satellites to disrupt service
by modeless 2y ago
Physically destroying one Starlink satellite is pointless as it wouldn't meaningfully disrupt service. Destroying enough Starlink satellites to disrupt service is infeasible. You would need to launch many hundreds if not thousands of interceptors. It would cost a fortune, probably a lot more than launching the constellation in the first place. It wouldn't deny access to space as you can simply launch through a debris cloud, spending only a few minutes in the danger zone which would give you a negligible collision risk compared to satellites that linger for years. You also couldn't intentionally create a debris cloud dense enough to disrupt communication or cause a chain reaction of collisions at Starlink's altitude. Space is too big.
- ianburrell 2y agoThere are rumors that the US and China have laser weapons for destroying satellites. Lasers are good for anti-satellites because they can sit on the ground with plentiful power. Then accurately target lots of satellites. Laser weapons possible whole constellation in short period of time depending on how fast they can fire. Lasers shouldn't produce lots of debris. If anything, they would be good at destroying debris.