American Spacecraft Set on Quest to Locate Potential Russian Satellites Armed with Nuclear Weapons in Orbit
Following the unveiling of Russian secret plans to develop nuclear-armed fighter spacecraft, a U.S. space defense organization is testing advanced, futuristic inspector spacecraft. These spacecraft could locate concealed warheads hidden within orbiting satellites, serving as a potential countermeasure to Russia's escalating nuclear brinkmanship.
The Kremlin's covert project, aimed at stationing ultra-powerful weapons in orbit, may intensify its nuclear threats against Western allies supporting Ukraine in their resistance against Russian invasion. Russia has also warned that it might target American satellites aiding Ukraine, including SpaceX's broadband-beaming satellites. A nuclear blast in low Earth orbit could potentially lead to the destruction of thousands of satellites and put the lives of International Space Station (ISS) astronauts at risk.
in the Physics of Atoms and Molecules at the Arizona State University and ThinkOrbital's co-founder, emphasizes the importance of timely intelligence on Russia's rocket forces to safeguard U.S. space defenses. He believes that the partnership between ThinkOrbital and the U.S. Space Force is a crucial step in furthering American space dominance.
ThinkOrbital's new-generation inspectors consist of two partner craft: one emits high-energy X-rays as it traverses space, and the other records the images produced by these X-rays as they pass through a targeted satellite. By positioning the detector craft on one side of the target and the X-ray emitter on the other, this orbital X-ray system can accurately detect even the most intricately disguised nuclear bombs, regardless of their speed.
ThinkOrbital, which was founded in part by former leaders of the U.S. Space Force and SpaceX, is currently testing this detection system within a vacuum chamber. They plan to launch twin demo missions into orbit next year, marking the world's first use of an X-ray setup for space-based inspection missions.
The development of ThinkOrbital's X-ray inspection technology is being supported by the U.S. Space Force through a series of SpaceWERX contracts.SpaceWERX is a branch of the Space Force aimed at fostering collaboration between military operational experts, innovative commercial entities, and academic institutions, with the ultimate goal of strengthening American space defenses.
ThinkOrbital's inspector spacecraft, if launched into orbit, could bolster American "space domain awareness" and prepare for prospective future space conflicts. Accurate knowledge of each spacecraft's activities launched by potentially hostile powers, as well as their payload, is crucial for the U.S. Space Force.
The threat of advanced missiles and nuclear super-bombs being developed by potential adversaries has driven the White House to propose constructing a worldwide missile defense shield, The Department of Defense is now building this satellite-based shield, which could theoretically protect against ICBMs launched from anywhere on the planet. ThinkOrbital's inspectors could play a significant role in safeguarding the numerous Allied sensors and armed interceptors, intended for detecting and destroying enemy ballistic missiles during their initial three minutes post-launch, from any hidden nuclear time bombs lurking in space.
As the Defense Department continues to build the missile shield, ThinkOrbital's inspectors could serve as a vital line of defense against potential attacks launched from orbiting platforms. Fleets of ThinkOrbital inspectors could constantly scan spacecraft launched by rival powers for hidden weaponry, contributing to the overall space war-fighting mission.
The Space Act Agreement between ThinkOrbital and NASA, signed nearly two years ago, focuses on collaborating to develop large-scale orbital platforms that facilitate various applications in low Earth orbit, including in-space research, manufacturing, and astronaut missions. ThinkOrbital was one of seven American space-tech innovators chosen by NASA to either design independent space stations for the nearest orbital lanes or develop spacecraft destined for these new space outposts, on the condition that the current de facto space truce holds.
- The unveiling of Russia's nuclear-armed fighter spacecraft has sparked concerns in the field of science and politics, with the US Space Force testing advanced inspector spacecraft as a potential countermeasure to Russia's nuclear brinkmanship.
- In the industry and finance sectors, development continues on a proposed worldwide missile defense shield, supported by the Defense Department. This shield aims to provide protection against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) launched from anywhere on the planet.
- In the realm of energy, ThinkOrbital's X-ray inspector spacecraft may play a significant role in safeguarding the numerous sensors and armed interceptors intended for detecting and destroying enemy ballistic missiles during their initial stages of flight.
- A recent partnership between ThinkOrbital and the U.S. Space Force is emphasized in the space-and-astronomy field, as the collaboration is deemed crucial for furthering American space dominance.
- In the general-news category, ThinkOrbital's inspector spacecraft, if launched into orbit, could potentially contribute to the overall space war-fighting mission, constantly scanning spacecraft launched by rival powers for hidden weaponry.
