Defense satellites used to be big, costly, and 'juicy' targets for attack. Now the Pentagon is aiming for a more resilient network of nearly 1,000 mini orbiters.
. For the military, it marks a significant shift from relying on a handful of powerful, expensive satellites to a swarm of smaller, cheaper ones. From the Pentagon’s perspective, they’ll be a harder target for rivals to strike; a missile or a laser attack might take out an individual satellite, but would do little to weaken a whole swarm.
The new satellites are for defensive purposes, focused primarily on missile tracking, data transfer, and communications between the satellites and their ground systems. Theof the fleet were lofted into low Earth orbit on April 2, and 13 more are planned to launch in late August from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The Department of Defense currently relies on about 10 missile defense satellites in geosynchronous orbit, which means their orbits keep pace with the Earth’s rotation at an altitude of about 22,000 miles. Flying the new swarm in low Earth orbit, which is only 600 miles above the ground, will improve their detection sensitivity and the timeliness of their missile warnings.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Warren Report Reveals Hundreds of Former Pentagon Officials Now Work for Defense ContractorsElizabeth Warren has released a new report that finds that at least 672 former government officials work for the top 20 defense contractors, with the vast majority in positions lobbying the very government they formerly worked for.
Les mer »
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin outlines Pentagon’s plan to deter war with ChinaDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin this week told Congress how the Pentagon plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars this year for new weapons and military preparations to deter what he said is the growing danger of war with China.
Les mer »
Defense hawks prepare to choke down debt deal — and Biden's Pentagon budgetA handful of GOP defense hawks plan to oppose the debt deal between Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy rather than endorse the administration’s $886 billion military budget that they’ve panned as too low.
Les mer »
Nancy Mace seeks answers on Pentagon’s return to Defense Travel SystemA House subcommittee chair has reached out to the Department of Defense regarding its decision not to go through with transitioning from the Defense Travel System to MyTravel.
Les mer »
Ex-top defense official expects bombshell details of Pentagon UFO recovery to be revealed to Congress“I’ve been told that we have recovered technology that did not originate on this Earth, by officials in the Department of Defense and by former intelligence officials,” said Christopher Mellon, the…
Les mer »
Pentagon announces competition to develop new AI programs, plug holes in national cyber defenseThe Pentagon believes competition provides the best opportunity for innovation and fresh perspectives to advance a vital sector of national security.
Les mer »