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Chapter 4
INTELLIGENCE WAR IN SPACE
T.he task of destroying the enemy's ICBM's throughout their trajectory,
and in boost phase, calls for comprehensrve mountrng rn space a
constellation of near earth components of the defensive system. These
may be both weapons on their components and various surveillance
acquisition, tracking, control and power supply, to support the space
defensive system.
"Gaining the "high ground" has been the goal of every commander
right from Hannibal to Mac Arthur. An arrow fired from the top of a hill flies
farther and hits harder than the one let loose from a valley. Even in modern
Warfare, with highly sophisticated artillery, it is easier to strike from a higher
point to a lower one than the other way around. But holding the high ground
has another advantage that has nothing to do with throw weights or
trajectory. Very simply, it is much easier to spy down from a hill, than to spy
up from a valley." 1
U-2 provided the much needed high ground during 1956-1962 and in
later stages SR-71 prove to be more effective for gathering intelligence.
Discoverer and Samas, were the first two American spy satellite series
which lead to the present generation of the Keyhole satellites. On 6th
October 1961 Kennedy had shown the photographs of Soviet missile·
bases. taken by satellite to the Soviet Foreign Minister. Andrei
1. Yost. Graham, SPYTECH {London, 1985), p- 48.
88
Gromyko.The ambiguous ·missile gap' which led to a search of proper
space intelligence with a come out, that it favoured the Americans.
Konstantin Tsiolkosky, a school master derived the ideal rocket
equation, and he use it to prove that rockets could operate even in the
vaccum of space. Tsiolkovsky is also concerned with the building rockets
in stages, an idea that was to be crucial in the early rocket programmes.
On other hand two American pioneer Robert Goddard and Herman Oberth
launched the world's first liquid propellant rocket March 16th 1926 after
the World War. Oberth who designed and built littler's V rockets and he
later helped both USA and former U.S.S.R. in their own infant rocket
programme. After World War II, Project RAND was commissioned by U.S.
Airforce to study the feasibility of launching a satellite into orbit. On the
report he suggested, "We can see no more clearly all the utility sea fleets
of B-29s bombing Japan and air transporters circling the globe though the
crystal tall is cloudy, two things seems clear:
1. Satellite vehicle with appropriate instrumentation can be expected
to be one of the most potent scientific tools of the twentieth century:
2. The achievement of a satellite craft by the United Sates would 1nflame
the imagination of mankind and would probably produce
repercussions in the world comparable to the explosion of the atomic
bomb. It should also be remarked that the satellite offers an
observation aircraft that cannot be brought down by an enemy who
X9
has not mastered similar techniques. Perhaps the two most 1mportant
classes of observation which can be made from a satellite are the
spotting of points of impacts of bombs. and the observation of
weather condition over the enemy territories.";>
Later in June 1954, a joint Army Navy project named as Orbiter which
was based on the Hon.Braun's proposal, suggested that the US military
missile system could be used to launch a satellite in space After Orbiter,.
Vanguard was launched with a view to protect secrets from public
disclosure. Vanguard was responsible for several key innovations in
spacecraft design.
MILITARIZATION OF SPACE
"For Generals educated in the tradition of Napoleon, space was the
new 'high ground', once 'captured', it offered control of the terntory below
and left other nations in their mercy."
Technological advancement and man's capabilities into new environment
have gone hand-in-hand with their military exploitation. Military war machine·
has extended its arm into a new wide open space to shift man's potential to
fight above the earth. Space has become an essential element of the strategic
balance. Thus when the USA and former USSR began their space programmes
in the late 1950s a military presence in space was widely expected
2. Flynn NigeiWar In Space(Leicester U.K. Windsward. 1986),
p - 102.
90
The dawn of space age initiated the possibility of orbital bombs of
space-based axle ballistic missiles, and of the military values of bases in
orbit, on the moon, and even Mars. Due to variety of technical, economical
and policy limitations, many of these space ·weapons' were slow to arrive.
These space weapons initiated a chain reaction in space weaponary. All
resources were diverted to select and place a suitable answer to the
enemy's new find.
As a result of this activity, space has become an essential element of
the strategic balance. The fundamental component of this balance are
terrestrial weapons and satellites, which have become targets for disruption.
by the hostile forces Technological advancement in this field has led to a
renewed focus on anti-satellite system which can perform the disruptive
task. Two significant trends recently emerged, and are likely to affect
radically the future militarization of space. The first is the development of
weapons for use in or from space, the second is the proliferation of nations
wishing to exploit the military advantages of the medium.
During World War II, the strategic potentials of space were first
seriously, recognized. During this war, the German Dr. Engene Sanger
investigated the concept of an antipodal bomber capable of carrying the
war to the US mainland by employing short exoatmospheric forays and
skip glide re-entry techniques. In 1951, Dr. Walter R. Dornberger, former
head of the German Peenemunde Rocket Research Centre was studying
the potentials of a new two stage manned missile, Bombi (Bomber M1ssile)
C)J
Initially Bomber was to be similar to Sanger's antipodal bomber. but later
designs envirisioned envisioned true or batal mission. By 1955, the
inevitability of artificial satellite Earth satellites was apparent the debate
which surrounded this initially controversial efforts was primarily directed
towards the utility or futility of satellite as the legitimate extensions of
commercial and military requirements. Long before the launch of Sputnik
I, there were a number of surveillance satellite projects like Programme
WS-117L, underway in the U.S. and by 1957 the first US antisatellite
programme, Saint (Satellite Interceptor), had reached a Systems
Development Requirement level.
Military satellites are of increasing importance across the spectrum of
military activity, right from day to day maintenance to all out war. Doctnnes
for limited nuclear war counter force attaches could not even be conceivable·
without satellites. Continuous scanning of the enemy territory by imaging
reconnaissance satellites is the only way that missile silos and other military
target could have been precisely mapped. Geodatic satellite have
contributed towards a precise gravitational mapping of the Earth necessary
fer the most accurate working of missile guidance system to submarine
based missile as accurate as today's ICBM's.
A protracted nuclear near doctrine calls for enduring a 'strategic
connectivity for a survivable warning system and for continu1ng target
reconnaissance. Studies conducted by the Pentagon proved that ..
"Extended survivability of U.S. tactical warning and attack assessment
system is becoming a matter of increasing importance, aris1ng from the
need to provide information for the management of strategic forces
STRATEGIC CONNECTIVITY: The ability to receive reports from far
flung forces and to direct them towards new targets during the pre-trans-
and post attack periods induding escalation central, oderly and controlled
termination of conflict and management of residual and rescrue forces." 1'
Satellites would play an important role in the event of the outbreak of
a nuclear war, because intercontinental ballistic missiles take about 30
minutes to travel between Russia and the United States, Early warning
satellite have at least marginally contributed to some crisis stability between
the superpowers. The early warning systems also hold open the possibility
of launch on-warning or launch-under-attack postures for the land based
missiles.
Communication satellites are the hot lines between strategic planner
and field commanders. They would be particularly important to highly co-.
ordinated and highly sophisticated strikes by nuclear weapons based in a
single continent. Two categories of satellites which realy plays an important
role in the space intelligence system are communication and early warning
satellites. In most of the cases the military satell!tes accomplish a task
3. Testimony of Harry L. Van Trees in the US Congress, Senate
Committee on Armed S ervi cesOe partm e nt of 0 efe n ce
Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1962_on S .615.
97th Congress, 1st Session 1981, p.4205.
93
which can be defined as auxiliary or instrumental to other more d1rect
military activities. A number of satellites can serve a dual purpose 1.e.
military as well as civlian. The categorization must widely used in today's
literature on the subject which defines as military satellite the broad range
reconnaissance and surveillance satellites, the auxiliary satellites wh1ch
includes communication, meteorological and geodetic and the thnd one is
anti-satellite (ASAT).
For the long distances C41 and CM activities the communication
satellites are mainly employed and they come under auxiliary category.
Considering their greater reliability and rapidity, communications via
satellites can also prevent the lack of information, false alarm and
autonomous decisions by military commanders. Navigational satellites are
used to accurately guide missiles to their target and help ships and aircraft.
These satellites are used to navigate, to locate the enemy position on
land and to provide accurate information about their movements.
Communication and navigational satellites are supported by meteorological
satellites, and provide information about weather conditions prevailing over
the enemy territories.
Geodatic satellites determine tile exact position of a target as well as
the gravitational field which controls the path of a missile. During the Gulf
War, tile Americans cruise missiles proved the importance of these
satellites as they hit the target with precised accuracy Early warnmg
satellites also belong to a broad category of satellites performing the task
of serveillance. A system capable of detecting from a great distance the
launching of any kind of missile is to be considered as a stabilizing one·
since it makes a surprise attack less probable and less rewarding. The
possibility of being alerted at the earliest moment to any missile take off
not ony enhances stability but constitutes together with appropriate
measures of notifications and a reliable communication system between
adversaries, and an important and effective confidence building measure,
especially in the nuclear field. The reconnaissance and surveillance
satellites which perform an ever increasing role of a watchdog in space
for proper verifications of arms control and disarmament agreements.
Now, its time to understand the useful characteristics of the space
· FREEG' is the mantra to understand them.
F- Flexibility
Manual and unmanned space systems provide flexibility in meeting
requirements on a timely, accurate and reliable basis.
R- Redundancy :
Functions accomplished both in space and the terrestrial environment
provide mutual back up and complicate hostile attempts to neutralise our
overall military capability.
E- Economy and Effectiveness :
Some functions can be performed more economically from or through
9S
space. Some example global weather monitoring intelligence and early
warning systems.
E- Efficiency :
C&l & CM can be performed with efficiency from space.
G - Global coverage :
Space based systems in appropriate orbital deployments prov1des
world wide coverage a frequent access to specific location on earth,
including those denied to terrestrial force on a recurring basis.
On the basis of FREE-G the Soviet space control objectives, therefore
include:
1. Unhampered utilisation of space assets to further the Soviet system
and goals
2. Support of Soviet tactical and strategic strike capabilities:
3. Prevention of the use of space by the enemy for military, political or
economic gain.
4. Protection of Soviet client state territories from enemy threats.
5. Protection of Soviet tactical and strategic operation.
The protection of Soviet strike forces with or from space resources
has been primarily passive till now. Space surveillance of enemy
attack preparations also tries to enhance. Soviet str1ke force
protection and survivability. The monitoring of enemy re-al1gnment
of strategic air forces or of unusual or large deployments of navy
fleet can allow time for Soviet responses which might either forestall
the enemy attack. To accomplish this goal, the Soviets specifically
launche·d twenty five photographic reconnaissance satellites each
year explicitly for medium and high resolution surveillance of potential
enemy forces and reserves. In addition, between 1978 and 1986
Soviet Salyutt and space stations have, on an average, been manned
for 180 days each year, providing additional intelligence gathering
facility.
U.S.MILITARY IN SPACE
Project RAND was sponsored by the U.S.Airforce to study space.
While the report was entitled "Preliminary Design for an experimental
spaceship", it dealt primarily with the use of satellite and uses of space.
Military communications, weather surveillance and satellite reconnaisance
were among the subjects deemed feasible in this study.
Primary involvement in space activities began with missile
development. "The militarization of outer space began just over a year
after the launching of Sputnik 1 in October 1957 with the launch of the first
military-related satellite in December 1958. Less than a year later. the
tests for anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons began. Thus, militarizationof this
environment occurred very rapidly into two stages; first marked by the
introduction of artificical satellites to enhance the Earth based weapon
systems; and second by beginning the development of weapons to be
aimed at and used against military satellites."4
The missiles designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons served as
space launch vehicles for both the USA and the USSR, Space launch
vehicles had been simultaneously developed with the missiles
programmes. In 1961 ,the US Army developed the Redstone rocket which
took the first Mercury astronatus on their sub-orbital flights. The Navy and
the Air Force had a variety of projects involving Viking ·rockets for high
altitude meteorological research and the IRBMs and ICBMs.
In 1955, the Eisenhower Administration had attempted an unsuccessful
launch of satellite. The role of the US military in space quickly transcended
the provisions of launch vehicles. The military services for the past three
decades, have been engaged in a competition for space missions and
budgetary allocation.
"Eisenhower, however, continued to emphasise the scientific
importance of space and noted that the Sputnik, itself had little military
significance. In the wake of political outcry over the Sputnik, in 1958. the
primary responsibility for the US space effort was g1ven to a new Civilian·
agency- National Aeronautiss and Space Administration (Nf\SA),had
proposed a US manned mission known as MISS (Man in Space Soonest)
4 Bhupinder JasaniSp~g~ WeaR_9ns The Arms ContrdiJilemrna
(SIPRI, Stcokholm. 1986), p- 26.
t}t}
but the effort was successfully opposed in the Administration.
Robert McNamard secretary of Defense during Kennedy Administration
cancelled a series of military space programmes including the Dyna-Soar·
and Blue Gemini manned project, and effectively starved the Manned
Orbiting Laboratory, although only after sl.4 billion was spent on the
projects. 5
THE SOVIET MILITARY IN SPACE
The military sector in the USSR has greatest access to the available
technological resources necessary for any type of space programme. The
Soviets have never admitted to possessing a military space programme,
and therefore an assessment of this programme must be based on a variety
of indirect information. The bulk of Soviet military space activities, like
those of the USA, consist of passive satellites for enhancing the ground
based systems.
While Soviet military launchings are generally hidden under the
Cosmos label, their purposes can usually be discerned through an anaiysis
of their orbits and launch sites, Electronic intelligence and forret flights
can be identified in comparison with the US satellites known to have a
similar function. For some years, the Kettering Grammar school in England
analysed the radio signals from the Soviet space system and determtned
the probable nature of the satellite. On the basis of this evtdence. 1t 1s
5. William Kaufmann.The McNamara's Strateg\(New York:
Harper and Row, 1964), p , 63.
Orbolal sp1c~ corr.~ ler-Cosmos i 4H, Salyut 7. Soyuz T9
CO<tnOS 1 «3 S..tell itc cnlt
I . Attur~lt ~~r~tus 2.Sor., b•tt•rv J .PISW90 C . fo.~ tanlo. S. F\.:nct,on~: s.e1"'oo.Ce ua: •on 6.t ... :rr:"\ll P4~ f"41t:l"' 7 . R ~~~r doc<ing ~~~1 6. \l•: ing unit
Sofvut lt.lti()f"1
9.E'IA hale!! IQ.f'.,\o>IJf comparlmtnl 1 1 .Addition•' YJ!.!r hauery 1? y, ;,.. so : ~r bal:try 13 . Wor~ : n~ CO'Tll'l'lment 14.! ;'1 1- trumentat ion compartrr.ent 15 .?a"•~ c~am!:>er lo .Ra<lar dock ing ~ri al 17 ?ropu ls,O:"'l compartmtnt
Soyuz T9 TnnSI)ort ship
IS. living quarcers 19. Living qu1rters hatch ZO.Sotar batttry 21.0esccnt module 22 .1nstrumentation compartment
I /
I .\ I
apparent that more than half the satellites launched by the USSR until
now are military satellites.
According to the US Congressional Research service of 2135 payloads
launched between 1957 and 1980, about 1,234 were "primarily military" in
nature. 6
In April 1955 a page one storey in Vechemyaya Moskna announced
the creation of a permanent Organisation within the Soviet Academy of
Sciences named the Commission of Interplanetary Communications. An
explicit task of this new commission was to organize the work concerned
with building an automatic laboratory (i.e. satellite) for scientific research
in space. Four months later the south officially announced their intention to
orbit an artificia: Earth sateliite in cunjuci:ion with the internationai
Geophysical Year.7
The summer of 1962 had seen the simultaneous flights of manned
Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 Spaceship which attested to the considerable·
capabilities of the Soviet rocket scientists both in daring and accuracy.
Such a feat was not planned by the United States for several years to
come.
Karl Von clausewitz, 19th century Prussian military strategist has
influenced the communist party movement. In volume Ill of his remarkable
6. Narcia, Smith,Spce Activities of the United States, Soviet
Union and other launching States Organisations 1957-83
(London, 1985), p 262.
7. Jon Nicholas L,Soviet Military Strategy In Spac¢London
Jane's Pub. 1987), p 17.
/{)(}
treatise, on war, Von Clausewitz asserts that, "War is nothing but a
continuation of political intercourse with mixture of other means."!!
It was Lenin himself who redefined "other means" to include "forcible
means" Thus Lenin endorsed the belief that war was only a violent extension
of~p-olitics and therefore a legitimate tool in international relations. This is
the cornerstone of Soviet Strategy and is a viable one today in space age.
In the 1960s the Soviet Union seriosly began to challenge the existing
American supremacy in two different regimes; the terrestrial seas and the·
seas of space. Analogously, at the begining of any conflict in outer space,
or even during high levels of terrestrial conflicts, the Soviet Union would
need to establish and maintain selective, if not universal, space
controi,While thespace operations which are concerned only with protection
of national space assets and the denial to the enemy of life space based
resources in this context space control is viewed as all actions required to
project and employ military power offensive and defensive through space
while simultaneously dening the enemy similar capabilities.
ASAT'S
With the development of sophisticated military satellites two super-
power armed forced rely to an extent 80 percent on sate II ite
communications. It was inevitable that anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons would,
sooner or later, be developed, within a few years of the first satellite being
8. Daras ThomasThe New High Ground System And Weapons
Or Space Age Wa«Kent; New English 1983), p, 60.
1 ()/
launched in October 1957, Space engineers, both in the East and the
West, were devising the ways of shooting them down. SAINT (Satellite
Interceptor) is the system in which satellite enterceptor monoeuvred 1tself
into the path of a 'target' satellite with a combination of small propulsion
rockets, homing radar and television camera. Its task was two told, to
perfect the technique of satellite manoeuvring in space and to carry out a
detailed inspection of enemy satellites would result in its interception and
destruction.
In the mid of 1982 NATO intelligence expert have had formed the firm
opinion that the erst while Soviet union had, at long last deployed their
ASAT system. On June 18,1982. Cosmos 1379 blasted off from Tyuratum·
cosmodrome in central Asia into the orbit of Cosmos 1375-a target satellite
launched 12 days earlier. Under the guidance of ground Central. Cosmos
1379 was manoeuvred on to the flight path of the target satellite. 965 km
above the Earth. Cosmos 1379 on this occasion flew past its target and
30 minutes later 43-entered the Earth atmosphere. The demonstration
made clear, however, the former soviet ability to seek out and destroy
·enemy's satellite Few hours later a ·seven hour nuclear war' started
significantly the war starts with an attack on low flying satellites Without
its spy satellites US would not know which missile had been forced or be
able to locate missile firing submarines or observes the reload1ng of certain
nuclear missile silos. After blinding the enemy's eyes, the exerc1se
simulated a 'first strike' usmg ICBM. and IRBMS against selected targets
/02
in Europe and United Statds. This was followed by swiftly by a more
concentrated 'second strike' from submerged submarines F1nally the
exercise tested the Soviet ability to shoot down incoming nuclear tipped
ICBMs with X-3 anti-ballistic missiles.
The first and best known, ASAT is the so-called co-orbital mterceptor
that was firsttested in 1968. The killer satellite status its target dunng the
course of one or two complete earth orbits, constantly drawing closer to it
while tracking with either imaging radar or infrared sensors When ASAT
is within the lethal range, it explodes, sending a first clad of pellets or
sharpnel into its target.
Relative to former soviet co-orbital satellites, the U.S. direct ascent
system is a model of sophistication. It is an 18 foot cong two stage rocket
designed to be carried under the belley of a fighter aircraft and launched
toward an enemy satellite from an altitude of about forty thousand feet.
The missile which is accelerated by its two boosters to a speed of about
thirty thousand miles an hour while it nose cone seperates and falls away
exposing a miniature Homing Vehicle (MHN) than it same into the target.
The U.S. ASAT has at least three advantages over its Russian co
orbital counterpart. Since it aircraft launched, ir can be used from any
place where airplane can ope-rate including air carriers. This gives it
considerable logistical flexibility. Second it is easily hidden and 1s therefore
difficult to locate by the very reconnaissance satellites that would constitute
I fl3
some of its most important targets. Finally its considerable log1st1cal
flexibility tiny size and terrific speed made it extremely difficult to spot,
evade or repel.
"The US system may not in itself change the balance of power m
space, Indeed, the argument for it is that i1 is needed to compensate for
other Soviet capabilities- their oceans surveillance systems. The residual
vulnerability can be reduced provided, that a treaty regime prevents further
evolution of ASAT capabilities. It would be possible to mon1tor the
dismantling of launch sties that have been used in ASAT test" ''
LASERS:
Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.The
ambitious schemes of all prospects the use of high energy, subatomic
particle beams in the anti ballistic missile role. Particle weapons in space
would require gaint nuclear accelerators of emprecedented power. The
Defense Advanced Reasearch Projects Agency DARPA, has a program
called Alpha designed to produce a 5 mega watt laser for a space platform.
It could damage other satellites perhaps high attitude aircrafts as well.
Seabased missiles or land based missiles would be vulnerable to
space laser attack would be during the period in which they have cleared
most of the atmosphere and in which their rockets are still finng the boost
phase. This phase lasts about five to eight minutes If the laser can Stay
9. Carter, Ashton B. ·satellite and Ant1satellltes'
INTERNATIONAL SECURIT~2 (8) Spr1ng 1986. pp 52-54
/04
Ground-b.L.~J laser
:-__ ~ Space-based beam weapons
U.S. $&:bmnine
• . Pop-up defence
focused on the missile long enough, it can melt gthe skin and probably
throw the missibe off course. Generating enough lasers power to knock
out missiles is just part of the task of putting together a space laser ABM
system. To focus and aim the laser beam at target from 600 to 3000 miles
away, will require enormous mirrors of exquisite optical quality, extra
ordinary durability and ultra light weight. The target detectors for the space
based laser ABM system will have to do more than pick rocket flames at
anywhere from 800 to 3000 miles away. The Russians could spoof the
system by firing off thousands of flares just before launching their rockets ..
It might be possible to design sensors that could sort out the real missiles
by the methods of infrared radiation.
Against laser attack it is suggested to have laser countermeasures,
by coating or missiles with highly reflective materials have +he missile
secrete a layer of fluid from its nose, absorbing the laser energy in the
way that an ablative coating would simply spin the missile, reducing the
amount of time that any one section of its surface is exposed to the laser
beam. 10
The survivability of the laser weapon system against a concentrated
enemy attack is a matter of concern. There is little doubt that, like most
weapon systems, space based laser battle station could be destroyed by
dedicated attack. The miniature vehicle can be launched by a fighter aircraft,
that would be much more difficult to detect than ICBM launch. Another
10. Flynn Nigel War in Space (Leicester U.K. Wind sward. 1986). p- 125
/05
threat to the space launched laser is the "space mine", wh1ch explode
automatically." 11
Strong proponents of space based weapons deem the doctnne of
MAD as immoral. It makes our primary strategic object1ve the mass
destruction of people rather them the running of war. MAD (Mutual Assured
Destruction) doctrine supposedly requires that our only defense agamst a
soviet attack be the threat to retaliate wqith mass nuclear destruction of
the Soviet population. Lasers advocates also thinks that Pentagon experts
are simply committed to the doctrine of MAD and therefore are aga1nst
any ABM sysstem on blind principle.
ASAT system pose ohter problems, ABM (Anti Ballistic M1ssile)
development is identical to ASAT development and both sides can take
further development which is prohibited by 1972 ABM treaty, under the
guise of ASAT research. Another problem which haunts experts mmds is
the potential of easily concealed, high confidence ASAT weapons to VIolate
1972 agreement.
SATELLITE SYSTEM SURVIVABILITY
As a result or the growing vulnerability of Earth satellites and related
ground systems a considerable effort is underway in the bothspace
superpower, to develop methods of making satellites more autonomous
so that they function, as much as possible, independent o1 the grour1d
11 C h i s to p h e r. M e red it h S p a c e We a p o n s - D e!~s:re n cg __ 9_1
Delu.§l9n(Combndge; Polity Press, 1986), p 53
I()()
systems. Efforts to make satellites less vulnerable include hardening
satellites, particularly from the points of view of an attack from lasers and
EMP loom methods are being developed to warn satellites of the approach
of an unfriendly space craft as well as to make the communications systems
free of interference. Another concepts involves the designs of satellites·
which are not easily observable. These are the so-called ·dark satellites'
orbited at attitudes beyond the range of surveillance sensors A dark
satellite would remain inactive in the depth of space until a signal were
sent to it move into an operational orbit and begin it required mission. Yet
another methods being investigated is to use large numbers of stellites or
as decoy. Above all, satellites of the future are being designed with
considerable manoeuvrability so as to evade an attacking interceptor
SATKA (Surveillance, Acquisition, Tracking and kill Asseassment). It
requires the development off sensors and techniques to provide immediate,.
reliable and detailed information about enemy missile attack.The intense
infrared radiation generated by the booster rockets can easily be detected
at great distance. On the basis of the information supplied by the SAKTA
sensors the weapon would need to be directed towards the1r targets.
Homing hit to kill enterceptor could be of the 'fire-and-forget' type but most
directed energy weapon would require very precise pointing and tracking
systems.
In summary, SATKA requirements impose formidable technological
demands. detection and accurate tracking of the component of an ICBM's
I 0 7
attack during its various stages are at least conceivable w1th the sensors
system currently being developed, even if they are not expected to be
achieved for some considerable time. However, reliable d1scmnmat1on of
decoys, especially when used in conjunction with draff and aerosols. would
inevitably be a still more difficult task against a ditermined opponent
Military Satellites
After the launch of Sputnik I, it was the Americans who rapidly took
the lead. Whereas American photoreconnaissance satellites who began
providing intelligence gathering services by August 1960, it took Soviets
almost three years before their cosmos recommaissance satellites were
in regular operations. Incoming Kennedy Administration in January 1961,
took immediate decisions of the impose total black out on all
recommaissance satellites launches. Total 66 US military satellites were
successfully launched in 1966 compared to 22 in 1971 and 16 in 197 4 By
the early 1980s over 2000 satellites were launched since Sputnik -1
Seventy four percent of 2000 satellites had been used for military roles. 12
Recommaissance Satellite
American LEO photo-reconnaissance satellite have longer life span
than their Russian counterparts. Reconnaissance satellites are classified
under five categories.
12 Hele, Desmond King,Observing Earth Satell1t_§Lond. Van
Nost Randrenhold Co. 1983), p- 28.
/08
CIRCUMTERRESTRIAL ORfll I::; Typ~s an<11nclinatlons
LEGENDS
LEO· Lnw r.:.rth nrhit MEO· Mr•rli11m r>~rth orhit GEO: G"o~ynchronous orhit HEO: Hiqh ei!rth orbit
lll ()
l GfO
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~ 1 I Jl
HHI :· ;• ~~ 1( l
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, I. ro. ~~~n r.vnr:llrnnnu~
2. MrO. pobr nrhrt
:1. l ;r:o. ''""·,'''""! 4 [r.r.f'ntru:: orbit,
ovrri:Jp<; LFO. M[O, HrO
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rlf){H\,.,.·,,.,,
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/ Ill fl
Ill (l
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----··-- - .... .J
1. Photographic
2. Electronic Intelligence
3. Ocean Surveillance
4. Early Warning Satellite
5. Nuclear Explosion detection.
Electronic Intelligence Satellite
These type of satellites are used to monitor military, diplomatic and
other radio communications telementery of test weapon or microwaves.
pulses emitted by the ship defence radar.
Now-a-days it is in use to monitor country's own citizen or togater
economic intelligence.
Ocean-reconnaissance sate411ites
ORS can carry sideways looking radars to enable them to locate ships
and take other maritime measurements in all weather and at all times of
day. Very precise satellite radar, using 'synthetic aperture technique, may
shortly be able to measure the level of the sea so accurately as to detect
passage of a submarine beneath its surface in areas.
Early Warning Satellites
EWS are equipped with infrared detectors which can provide either
superpower with about 30 minutes warning of an attack by the ballistic
I 09
1 . Photographic
2. Electronic Intelligence
3. Ocean Surveillance
4. Early Warning Satellite
5. Nuclear Explosion detection.
Electronic Intelligence Satellite
These type of satellites are used to monitor military, diplomatic and
other radio communications telementery of test weapon or microwaves.
pulses emitted by the ship defence radar.
Now-a-days it is in use to monitor country's own citizen or togater
economic intelligence.
Ocean-reconnaissance sate411ites
ORS can carry sideways looking radars to enable them to locate ships
and take other maritime measurements in all weather and at all times of
day. Very precise satellite radar, using 'synthetic aperture technique, may
shortly be able to measure the level of the sea so accurately as to detect
passage of a submarine beneath its surface in areas.
Earjy_Wa-ming Satellites
EWS are equipped with infrared detectors which can provide either
superpower with about 30 minutes warning of an attack by the ballistic
I 09
missiles. America has three Geostatenery early warning Defuse support
program. Soviets has its early warning satellites are in Molviya orbits.
Complete coverage is obtained by a constellation of nine satellites which·
has shorter life spans than their US counterparts.
Satellites for Nuclear Explosion Detection
To monitor and maintain limited Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation
Treaties by watching for above ground nuclear test. These detection
devices of U.S. is carried on other platforms Navstar satellites, principally
dedicated to the Global Positioning System (GPS) also carry the Integrated
Operational Nuclear Detection System (IONDS). The United States has
launched six successive pairs of super synchronous Vela Satellites for
monitoring between 1963 and 1970.
MHitary Orbit Types
LEO Betwee:1 about 200 and 5000 km how EArth orbits are favoured
for general reconnaissance mission since they give planet wide coverage.
Periods are between 90 minutes and a few hours.
Semi Synchronous Orbit
Circular orbit at 20,700 km with a period of 12 hours. The term is
sometimes-extended to all orbits between LEO and this attitudes.
1/(J
Molniya Orbit
Highly illiptical, approximately 500x40000 km, with a 12 hour period.
Most stable at inclination of 63°. Mostly used by Soviets to provide satellite
spending 11 hours but of 12 above the northern hemisphere.
Geostationary Orbit (GEO)
Circular, equatorial, attitude 35,700 km, with a period of 24 hours,
such satellites appears to remains almost stationary above a fixed point
on the equator. GEO serves for early warning and communication purposes.
Geosynchronous Orbit
At an attitude of 35,700 km, circular, inclined orbit has larger figure of
eight ground tracks, according to its inclination. It can be used for both
military and circles purposes.
Super-Synchronous Orbit
Above GEO which are little in use, but in future, it can be used for
taking refuge from any type of ASAT's.
Types of Laser
The term· Laser' has been as if these was just one laser weapon. This
is not so research isbeing conducted into many different types of laser
weapons. Broadly falls under three heads :
Ill
l. Chemical Lasers
Chemical lasers are powerful lasers they are produced by utilizing
the reaction between two gases hydrogen and flourine. In early February
1981, the Weapon was used against an air launched AIM-92 side wing
side air to air missile though beam hit the target but ur:lSl.JCCeSSful to destroy it.
Excimer Laser
These lasers are created by the reaction of two gases i.e. between·
flourine and argon or oxenon stimilated by electrical power to produce
pulses of beams of high energy in a fractions of second. They make an
ideal anti-missile weapons because they can destroy their target by
concentnating on it for just a second or more. Major drawback of eximer
laser as a space weapon is that they need laser generating equipment in
space.
X-rays Lasers
X-ray lasers are brainchild of DR Edward Teller that first fired President
Reagan's imagination and helped formulate whole idea of a space based·
strategic defense.
There are three basic problems that a potential x-ray laser weapon
system, if this is to work, must overcome. First, is the need to produce
enough energy to create the x-rays. Second is the problem of stationing
the weapon in space and third is the problem of targeting the weapon on
to attacking missiles.
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Prospects
More efficient and higher energy lasers and particle beams than are
available today will no doubt be developed. The issues connected with
high energy beam technology are complex. The history of weapons, system
indicate that man has never been contented, military technologyhas always
striven to develop better weapons. The militarization of space has reached
such a level that loss of some or all of nation's military spacecraft would
reduce considerable the efficiecny of that nation's fighting forces on Earth.
Therefore war in space, would be just an indication of initiation of war on
Earth.
As regards the high beam weapons, a number of problems need to be
soloved before such systems can be used in practicable weapons. On
cases of las_ers, beam propagation is reasonably well understood. The
problem of tracking and aiming at a fast among target have to some extent
been solved but much work remains to be done.
Space technology will undoubtedly spread beyond the industrial
nations. Also, this technology plays an important role in the verifying the
implementation of some arms control agreements and in monitoring crisis.
Perhaps these roles could used as a cutting edge to reduce and.
eventually to ban the military use of space.
While the political climate is being created for such changes in the
use of outer space, there is an urgent need for some measures to slow
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down and even to stop the militerization of this environment. Now-a-days
American-Russian jointspace venture among towards more peaceful and
explorative activities. But in the absence of total ban on use of satellites
for military purposes the following measures could be suggested.
1 . To increase the war fighting efficiency of Earth based weapons
many more speacecraft will be used. It might be suggested that the number
of military satellites launched per year by a country is limited.
2. Since disarmament is a concern for all - it is essential that
discussions on the concept of an international satellite monitoring agency
are kept alive.
3. To make awareness about the extent of the militerization of outer
space and the disastrous consequences of allowing space technology to.
add impetus to the arms race. In this connection, setting up a UN Centre
for Outer Space would help.
4. The minimum that the two major powers could do to bring at least
some military activities in outer space under control is to agree to an ASAT
treaty particularly when ASAT weapon could also be used to against ballistic
missiles.
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