[Trunks]

I may have posted this before but I dont think i did. If i did you can simply ignore, or watever. But here is what I think about the militarization of space. Now im not top governmental official, and most of what I am saying is based on common knowledge and speculation. Ok, so lets get atarted. What really astonishes me is that countries are really not pushing to get their militaries up into space. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am fairly sure that no military anywhere in the world has put serious money into making space ships, fighters, satellities, stations etc. Ok, so most of you are like, wtf, this isnt star wars. I respond with one of my favorite quotes, "technology is on the brink of science fiction." So, ok, most of that stuff would technically be possible, but why and how? Well think about it, what is one of the modern militaries greatest weapons, a system that commanders and well as indivisual soldiers use, or will use in the near future, which helps to coordinate their efforts? GPS. Ok, i hope most of you see where im going with this. GPS uses satelites. So, if i was at war with another country, i could send, just one ship, or just one fighter craft, and take out their GPS satelites. So now, that country wouldnt have GPS, while my country would. Also, you could take out cellphone satelites, which could damage a countries economy, and altho im not quite sure if the miltary employs cell phones, there would be chaos in the civilian secter. The other thing is weather satelites. Migt not seem like a big deal, but knowing when bad weather can/will strike can be a very helpful resource when fighting a war. The other thing, and this is where im speculating, however, theoretically, a ship could bombard ground targets from space. The problem is, that shells/missiles would have to be specially designed to withstand entry into earths atmosphere. So, what would war in space be like? My take on it is there would be a decent amount of ships, and a pretty large number of space craft/fighter craft. Interesting thing is, there would be no subs in space, and ballistic weapons dont slow down in space so theoretically battleship like designs could be employed. Satelites and space stations would be needed to repair the ships and fighters.... And thats that. Feel free to comment, bash, etc. Basically the whole point of this was to say that the military that realizes the importance of space miltarization will have a signifigant advantage over other countries.

[Coleman]

well you have to keep in mind there are only a handfull of countries that even have the ability to send people into space. I'm sure we have projects that involve using space technology and military weapons.

[TodzumPapst]

Originally Posted by Trunks

"technology is on the brink of science fiction.".

That got me thinking. Technically we are living in a science fiction world, not to us living now but if i were from the 1800's or even early 1900's and saw the technology we have now, i would be AMAZED.

[Stammer]

It's another 100 years off, if were still around.

[Sgt>Stackem]

Im sure there are a few "satellities" that we are not aware of. I wouldnt be surprised if there is something up there

[1080jibber]

[quote="Sgt>Stackem":697ed]Im sure there are a few "satellities" that we are not aware of. I wouldnt be surprised if there is something up there[/quote:697ed]me too, you never know whats up above us

[ninty]

As you might have guessed, I have an opinion on this subject. I will address it in two parts:

First: Why aren't other countries vying for space dominance? Simple: Money.

I'm sure the Russians would love to have all this crazy space stuff, but can they afford it? No way in hell.

Edit, found this link:
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-05zc.html

I'm sure the Russians would, if they could, but they don't have a chance, so they'll say they oppose any action in space if they can't be there.

The Chinese? Their just starting off, and I'd say their the US's biggest adversary for the new space race. Their rocket just touched down today I believe with their second manned mission to space going well.

There are perhaps a few other countries with the ability to travel to space, India comes to mind; however, I’m not exactly sure if that is accurate. And even if the Indians had the resources, their much too busy with Pakistan. They both have nukes, and really, that's all their interested in right now.

This leaves the US.

Now for the second part:

Many people don't realize this, but the US has already begun the militarization of Space. If you recall about a year or two ago, (i'm sure Canadians will remember this because it was in the news for basically 6 months while the PM sat on the fence) there was tremendous pressure for Canada to sign onto the missile shield that the US says is designed to shoot down incoming missiles from rogue nations like N Korea.

Canada did not sign on, but many have said, that since we're a part of NATO, we're apart of the missile shield because they are intertwined together now. It doesn't matter if the PM says no to the shield, we have no choice but to play along.

The US has been doing many tests with land based technologies to shoot down incoming missiles, but critics of the program say that this will soon move to near earth orbit. And I would happen to agree. I mean, why wouldn't it? If the US is afraid of rogue missiles, and they can shoot them down from space, why wouldn't they try to implement this technology?

Canada has stated that it is against "Star Wars" and the militarization of space. This is why the US has to be careful about how they describe certain programs.

Next in the US's arsenal is the US Space Command:

http://www.peterson.af.mil/hqafspc/

There was a better link about the program that I can't find at this moment, but you can browse around their site.

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Space_Command

The purpose of bringing this up is to show that the US does infact have programs based on the militarixation of sapce. And again, does this suprise anyone? The most powerful nation, i'm sure this is expected.

[quote:21139] * Space forces support involves launching satellites and other high-value payloads into space using a variety of expendable launch vehicles and operating those satellites once in the medium of space.
* Space control ensures friendly use of space through the conduct of counterspace operations encompassing surveillance, negation, and protection.
* Force enhancement provides weather, communications, intelligence, missile warning, and navigation. Force enhancement is support to the warfighter.
* Force application involves maintaining and operating a rapid response, land-based ICBM force as the Air Force's only on-alert strategic deterrent.
[/quote:21139]

Next is the reason for President Bush returning astronauts to the Moon.

The US has had something like 11 manned missions to the moon with the Apollo Program if I remember correctly. There's nothing there. So why would they want to spend billions and go back? Many would say that the new missions to the moon would have the purpose of setting up military bases and such.

I remember reading an article about a month or two ago where the top Nasa guy O’Keefe I believe said that choosing to build the ISS (international space station) was the wrong idea. He stated that it was obvious now that the US and international partners should have developed a moon base instead of building the ISS in earth orbit.

Here's the article:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/sp ... view_x.htm

It wasn't O’Keefe, it was Griffin. My mistake.

[quote:21139]Only now is the nation's space program getting back on track, Griffin said. He announced last week that NASA aims to send astronauts back to the moon in 2018 in a spacecraft that would look like the Apollo capsule.[/quote:21139]

President Bush also announced that a manned mission to Mars will also take place. I would expect the same to follow on Mars as what happens on the Moon.

This is all speculation of course. My speculation through the research I have done. Who knows? 2018 is a long way off. Things can change before then. Perhaps the US will never go back to the moon. But in my opinion, I don't see why the US wouldn't want to create a military installation on the Moon. They are the only country with the technology. Funding is a different story though, because the US is pretty much bankrupt. If they can find a way to fund it, I see it happening without a doubt.

I suppose the ESA could also be a contender in this, but I doubt they have the funds to do any of this.

That's how I see it playing out anyway. 2040-2050 the US will have a fully functional military installation on the Moon.

Edit:

Found this link as well:

http://www.afsc.org/pwork/0200/0220.htm

[quote:21139]On Nov. 1, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted to reaffirm the Outer Space Treaty--the fundamental international law that establishes that space should be reserved for peaceful uses.

Almost 140 nations voted for the resolution entitled "Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space." It recognizes "the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes," reaffirms the will of all states that the exploration and use of outer space "shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries," and declares "that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security."

Only two nations declined to support this bill--the United States and Israel. Both abstained.[/quote:21139]

There is TONS of info out there. All you have to do is look for it. That goes for any subject.

And More:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Penta ... Corps.html

[quote:21139]The blueprint for the U.S. space military program is revealed in the report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization. The "Space Commission" was chaired by Donald Rumsfeld, now installed as the Bush-Cheney administration's Secretary of Defense.
"In the coming period," states the report issued January 11, 2001, "the U.S. will conduct operations to, from, in and through space in support of its national interests both on the earth and in space.''
The report urges that the U.S. president "have the option to deploy weapons in space to deter threats to and, if necessary, defend against attacks on U.S. interests."
"We know from history that every medium-air, land and sea-has seen conflict," declares the report. "Reality indicates that space will be no different. Given this virtual certainty, the U.S. must develop the means both to deter and to defend against hostile acts in and from space. This will require superior space capabilities."[/quote:21139]

[Trunks]

+1 for the great linkage ninty. I did a bit of research on my own but none of the articles i found even hinted about space forces encompassing anything but satellites... Guess I was wrong, as they appear to hint at other things in a couple of your articles. Very interesting stuff tho. I remember a while back I saw an article about Russia threatening that if America begins the weaponization of space, they will follow in suit. Seems like an empty threat tho, because as you said, their economy isnt exactly in tip top shape. Eventually, they will probably straighten up. Chinas economy on the other hand is booming with all the outsourcing going to their, so they could indeed be a major contender. What surprises me is that countries like Britain, France, and even Canada arent trying to at least get something up there. It would make sense for them to be major contenders but apparently they arent interested for some reason.... Also Japan could be a major contender if it werent for the fact that to this day I believe they arent even allowed to have a real military...

[mR.cLeAn]

Originally Posted by Coleman

well you have to keep in mind there are only a handfull of countries that even have the ability to send people into space. I'm sure we have projects that involve using space technology and military weapons.

well now that space ships can be made in India, thanks to selling of technologies, everyone can have their own Battlestar ... I call dibs on Mars were there is a pyramid that looks like a human face.

[img]http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_2mars1.gif[/img]

[ninty]

the face doesn't exist anymore. been eroded by dust storms in the atmosphere.

[mR.cLeAn]

orly?

that sucks I was aiming for that realstate

[ninty]

[img]http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/images/cydonia/threefaces.gif[/img]

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast24may_1.htm

[Stammer]

Plus it wasn't a pyramid it was a mesa.

[c312]

technically, don't ICBM's go into space?