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The challenge of the X-37b is imagination. My pet theories involve interdicting opposing countries spy/communications satellites with stealth drone satellites c

The challenge of the X-37b is imagination. My pet theories involve interdicting opposing countries spy/communications satellites with stealth drone satellites carried and retrieved by x-37. If we could get physical acces to satellites on orbit, we could own enemy communications. More so attaching mines to enemy satellites to disable on command would also be a valuable capability. Etc… lots of possibilities.

onlyrealcuzzo 2y ago
Rather than blowing up satellites and causing debris, wouldn't you rather attach a thruster to move it out of orbit?
- kjkjadksj 2y ago
  If your opposition has an advantage in space over you, turning low earth orbit into a useless debris field for several years is overwhelmingly in your advantage.
lumost 2y ago
Plausibly, there is no real monitoring of co-orbiting bodies in space. If there aren't cameras pointed at every location of the sattelite (why would their be?) you could place a small kill device nearby to avoid the need to shoot down the satellite in the future. Satellites are flimsy things, all one would need to do is break the mirror/telecom array to stop satellite guided weapons.
- jjk166 2y ago
  I imagine it wouldn't take a very sensitive inertial measurement unit to pick up a craft physically interacting with it. Most satellites would need more precise instruments for their own maneuvering control. It might not be enough to determine what tampering took place, but it should be clear that tampering did take place.
- m2fkxy 2y ago
  > Plausibly, there is no real monitoring of co-orbiting bodies in space [capable] nations operating sensitive satellites and other space assets absolutely are monitoring foreign objects maneuvering in their orbital vicinity.
  - dr_orpheus 2y ago
    Yep, and you can find lots of commercial companies that are doing this https://exoanalytic.com/space-domain-awareness/ https://exoanalytic.com/space-domain-awareness/

onlyrealcuzzo 2y ago

Rather than blowing up satellites and causing debris, wouldn't you rather attach a thruster to move it out of orbit?

kjkjadksj 2y ago
If your opposition has an advantage in space over you, turning low earth orbit into a useless debris field for several years is overwhelmingly in your advantage.

lumost 2y ago

Plausibly, there is no real monitoring of co-orbiting bodies in space. If there aren't cameras pointed at every location of the sattelite (why would their be?) you could place a small kill device nearby to avoid the need to shoot down the satellite in the future. Satellites are flimsy things, all one would need to do is break the mirror/telecom array to stop satellite guided weapons.

jjk166 2y ago
I imagine it wouldn't take a very sensitive inertial measurement unit to pick up a craft physically interacting with it. Most satellites would need more precise instruments for their own maneuvering control. It might not be enough to determine what tampering took place, but it should be clear that tampering did take place.
m2fkxy 2y ago
> Plausibly, there is no real monitoring of co-orbiting bodies in space [capable] nations operating sensitive satellites and other space assets absolutely are monitoring foreign objects maneuvering in their orbital vicinity.
- dr_orpheus 2y ago
  Yep, and you can find lots of commercial companies that are doing this https://exoanalytic.com/space-domain-awareness/ https://exoanalytic.com/space-domain-awareness/