{"id":126559,"date":"2024-02-01T12:01:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T17:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=126559"},"modified":"2024-02-01T18:03:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T23:03:14","slug":"economist-war-in-space-is-no-longer-science-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=126559","title":{"rendered":"(Economist) War in space is no longer science fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first <\/small>shot of the next war between the world\u2019s big powers, it is often said, will be fired in space. As conflict spreads on Earth, ill omens are emerging in the firmament. As countries race to develop new capabilities in space, some are also building the forces and weapons to fight beyond the atmosphere. On January 28th Iran said it had launched three satellites; Western countries fear they could be used in its ballistic-missile programme. Russia\u2019s\u00a0invasion of Ukraine<\/a>\u00a0has opened a new chapter in space war. But America\u2019s biggest dread is China, which seeks to\u00a0match if not surpass<\/a>\u00a0America\u2019s primacy in the heavens. Admiral Christopher Grady, vice-chairman of America\u2019s joint chiefs of staff, explains it bluntly: \u201cSpace has emerged as our most essential warfighting domain.\u201d<\/p>\n

American generals scrutinise the cosmos from Space Command\u2019s headquarters in Colorado Springs. \u201cGuardians\u201d, as America\u2019s new breed of space warriors call themselves, monitor about 15 daily missile launches, from Ukraine to Iraq and North Korea, at the Joint Operations Centre (joc<\/small>). They also watch the fast-growing deployment of satellites, heaps of orbiting junk and the re-entry of objects into the atmosphere. Above all, they look for danger.<\/p>\n

Among the most closely observed objects are two recently launched robotic space planes, smaller versions of the space shuttle. America\u2019s x37-b<\/small>\u00a0lifted off from Cape Canaveral on December 28th (pictured). China\u2019s Shenlong, or Divine Dragon, was lofted a fortnight earlier. Both missions are largely secret.<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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War in space is no longer science fiction. My report on the growing danger that earthly conflict will spread to space–and vice versa. Countries are tooling up.🧵 1\/6 https:\/\/t.co\/7xh4gNQMYL<\/a><\/p>\n

— Anton La Guardia (@AntonLaGuardia) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n