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TLDR: While the title says that it is not known who has moved an abandoned UK satellite used for military telecommunications, the article very strongly implies
by adrian_b 2y ago
TLDR:
While the title says that it is not known who has moved an abandoned UK satellite used for military telecommunications, the article very strongly implies that it was someone from USA, who does not want to acknowledge this.
The satellite had been built by USA and initially operated also by USA, before being handed down to the UK, so they had the capabilities to control it at any time.
- Yeul 2y agoUKs nuclear deterrence is built by the USA. It is a testament to deGaulle's genius that he never fell into that trap.
- dmix 2y agoThe UK not having to build their own SLBM is probably a good thing given the current state of their military procurement. At least from all the bad stories I've heard via the news. Just one less thing they have to worry about so they can focus on other stuff.
- exe34 2y agomaybe the warheads would have fitted on the rockets the first time... (1m10: https://youtu.be/IKQlQlQ6_pk?si=FGnFRJISuTgujgMa https://youtu.be/IKQlQlQ6_pk?si=FGnFRJISuTgujgMa)
- casefields 2y agoI’ll never forget after de Gaulle ordered all American soldiers out of France, US Sec of State Dean Rusk retorted “Does your order include the bodies of American soldiers in France's cemeteries?"
- cenamus 2y agoTo be honest, most central Europeans would not have been too happy with France's early nuclear strategy. Basically just shooting a-bombs into a corridor along the Rhine to stop the Soviets
- rhplus 2y agoIts current position above Central America would certainly have been useful to the US in the mid 1970s when it apparently moved, perhaps more useful than it would have been to the UK over post-colonial East Africa.
- fy20 2y agoRight, and given the US-UK military relationship, it seems likely that it could have been moved with the UK having full knowledge - but they just didn't want to record or admit it.
- Keysh 2y agoThe article says that it was no longer functional (in its communications abilities, at least) by that point > Launched in 1969 ... the spacecraft ceased working a few years later ... Also, what makes you think the US didn't already have their own satellites for that purpose?