Military Implications of an SPS

vehicles for this purpose, however, requires a deliberate decision to do so, and if the seized satellites were in operation at the time of capture, the act would be detected immediately. The LEO and GEO Bases. Both bases in the Reference Design could be used in certain military support roles without any hardware modifications, including shelter for military personnel; supplies (life support consumables and propellants); and such services as medical treatment, repair of military equipment and spacecraft, data processing support, and communications. In an emergency, many of these support activities would be provided to civilian or military personnel in space from any nation under provisions of the 1968 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts, and the Return of Objects Launched Into Outer Space. Such uses of the SPS on a sustained basis, however, would require deliberate expansion of SPS facilities to accommodate these military missions without reducing SPS productivity. Power Satellites. The living and working quarters aboard the power satellites would offer shelter, support, and services (including electrical power) similar to those afforded by the LEO and GEO bases, but on a smaller scale. Since the 1967 Treaty on Principles declares that outer space "shall be free for exploration and use by all States wihout discrimination of any kind,” military spacecraft belonging to a friendly nation could find sanctuary by flying in close proximity to various SPS facilities in orbit or, indeed, even between the girders of a power satellite. Hostile forces might be reluctant to attack military spacecraft so close to a civilian space asset for fear of incurring retaliation from a third party. The owners of an SPS facility being used as a sanctuary could publicly deny any cooperation or consent since the Treaty on Principles permits such close flight. Rectenna. The electrical power supplied by a rectenna can be used for both civilian and military purposes. In this sense, the rectenna would serve a military support function, especially if located near major military facilities. Command and Control System. C^2 centers at power satellites and rectennas could be used to shut down the power satellite, denying power to the utility network.

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