Military Implications of an SPS

satellites can supply approximately 8 GW of electrical power; the COTVs can suply 260 to 610 MW; and the LEO and GEO bases can provide lesser amounts. Second, SPS elements offer a number of orbital platforms which have complete sets of built-in housekeeping functions (station-keeping, attitude control, C^2 center, utility power, etc.). Third, LEO and GEO bases (and perhaps the power satellites) are permanently manned facilities. Adapters which could be used for force delivery when combined with elements of the SPS can be divided into three categories listed in Table 3-1. Projectile weapons could be used against targets in space or on Earth. Manipulators could be attached to orbital transfer vehicles or to sortie vehicles and used to seize satellites ("satnapping") or to damage or destroy enemy satellites (satellite mutilation, "satmut”). Various types of directed energy weapons (DEW) could be developed and attached to SPS elements having abundant power onboard. 3.2.1.1 Force Delivery Adapters for SPS. Projectile weapons for use against space targets (space-to-space missiles) can be categorized in several different ways. It is useful to consider the means of propulsion (rocket propelled or impulsively propelled) and the velocity change the projectile or its launcher is capable of achieving ("low velocity”—Av of order, say 300 m/sec. suitable for co-orbital missions; ’’high velocity”—Av of order 3000 m/sec, suitable for targets at significantly different altitudes, eccentricities, or inclinations). Both rockets and projectiles can be used for co-orbital missions. Rockets allow the possibility of midcourse and terminal correction maneuvers and thus are applicable to orbital intercept (01), but they may be relatively costly and can probably be detected and tracked unless special measures are taken. These measures include "reduced observables" (techniques such as antireflective paint or suitable shaping to reduce radar cross sections); decoys; and propulsion using cold gases to avoid the strong infrared (IR) signature characteristic of a hot exhaust. Impulsively propelled projectiles (bullets, fusillades of pellets, or shaped charge explosives) are very difficult if not impossible to detect and track. In most cases, such projectiles would be easy to launch from small platforms in space. (Note that conventional high velocity rifles attain muzzle velocities on the order of 300 m/sec.) At greater distances from the Earth, small velocity changes can result in large changes in orbital parameters, including inclination, apogee, perigee, and

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