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MUHAMMAD HARIS JAWEDMUHAMMAD HARIS JAWED

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• This presentation deals with This presentation deals with definitions and types of space definitions and types of space weapons from a technical weapons from a technical perspectiveperspective

• It is meant to give a basic It is meant to give a basic understanding of the physics understanding of the physics involved, the technical workings of involved, the technical workings of space weapons, and their feasibilityspace weapons, and their feasibility

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• The basic rules (physics review)The basic rules (physics review)

• General types of space weaponsGeneral types of space weapons– Earth-based weapons that move through Earth-based weapons that move through

space to attack targets on the groundspace to attack targets on the ground– Earth-based weapons that attack targets in Earth-based weapons that attack targets in

spacespace– Space-based weapons that attack targets Space-based weapons that attack targets

in space, air, or on the groundin space, air, or on the ground

• The grey areasThe grey areas

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• Velocity (speed) is not an independent variableVelocity (speed) is not an independent variable– It is a function of altitude, and changing one changes the It is a function of altitude, and changing one changes the

otherother– A school bus and an apple at the same circular orbit altitude A school bus and an apple at the same circular orbit altitude

will have the same speed (but one has a lot more will have the same speed (but one has a lot more momentummomentum))

• Lack of air (friction) means Lack of air (friction) means inertia dominatesinertia dominates– What goes in motion stays in motion for a very long timeWhat goes in motion stays in motion for a very long time– Very difficult to change direction, cannot “maneuver” in Very difficult to change direction, cannot “maneuver” in

space like in airspace like in air

• At very high speeds, solid objects tend to behave like At very high speeds, solid objects tend to behave like liquids when they collideliquids when they collide– Think crossing two high pressure sprays from hosesThink crossing two high pressure sprays from hoses– Resulting pieces end up in similar orbits as parents (with Resulting pieces end up in similar orbits as parents (with

some changes)some changes)

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• Standing on a satellite and throwing an object “down” will result in the Standing on a satellite and throwing an object “down” will result in the object drifting away and coming back to your hand one orbit laterobject drifting away and coming back to your hand one orbit later

• A satellite does not orbit “around” another satelliteA satellite does not orbit “around” another satellite– Both objects are in orbit around the Earth, but appear to move around Both objects are in orbit around the Earth, but appear to move around

each othereach other

Motion relative to the EarthMotion relative to the Earth Motion relative to each otherMotion relative to each other

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• Nuclear weapons do not behave in space as they do Nuclear weapons do not behave in space as they do on the Earthon the Earth– The lack of an atmosphere means a nuclear detonation The lack of an atmosphere means a nuclear detonation

will not produce a blast wave or blast effectswill not produce a blast wave or blast effects– Less thermal energy is emitted and much more high Less thermal energy is emitted and much more high

frequency (X-ray and Gamma Ray)frequency (X-ray and Gamma Ray)– Much greater release of prompt radiationMuch greater release of prompt radiation

• Other significant effectsOther significant effects– Electromagnetic pulse (EMP)Electromagnetic pulse (EMP)– Short term interference with radar and radio Short term interference with radar and radio

communicationscommunications– Long term damage through capture of charged particles Long term damage through capture of charged particles

by Earth’s magnetic field, creating artificial radiation by Earth’s magnetic field, creating artificial radiation belts, and excitation of Van Allen beltsbelts, and excitation of Van Allen belts

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• Earth-based weapons that move through space Earth-based weapons that move through space to get to targets on the groundto get to targets on the ground– Medium to long range ballistic missilesMedium to long range ballistic missiles

• Earth-based weapons that attack targets in spaceEarth-based weapons that attack targets in space– Direct ascent ASATsDirect ascent ASATs– Lasers and directed energy weaponsLasers and directed energy weapons

• Space-based weapons that attack targets in Space-based weapons that attack targets in space, on the ground, or in the airspace, on the ground, or in the air– Co-orbital ASATsCo-orbital ASATs– Hypervelocity rodsHypervelocity rods– Space-based lasersSpace-based lasers

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• First ballistic missile was the German V-2 rocket First ballistic missile was the German V-2 rocket during WWIIduring WWII

• Seized upon in the 1950’s as a way of delivering Seized upon in the 1950’s as a way of delivering nuclear weapons long distances in very short times nuclear weapons long distances in very short times (compared to bombers) and were difficult to intercept(compared to bombers) and were difficult to intercept

• Most do not consider them to be true space weapons, Most do not consider them to be true space weapons, but ballistic missiles can be the basis for other space but ballistic missiles can be the basis for other space weaponsweapons

• Usually classified by their range (greater than 5500 Usually classified by their range (greater than 5500 km range are considered Intercontinental Ballistic km range are considered Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles)Missiles)

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• A ballistic trajectory is A ballistic trajectory is simply an orbit with a simply an orbit with a perigee inside the Earthperigee inside the Earth

• Ballistic objects have Ballistic objects have higher apogees (point higher apogees (point furthest away from furthest away from Earth) than many Earth) than many satellites but do not satellites but do not have enough velocity to have enough velocity to stay in orbitstay in orbit

Sun-sync orbit (800 km)

Apogee

Perigee

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• At a fundamental level, the only difference between a ballistic At a fundamental level, the only difference between a ballistic missile and a space launch vehicle is energy and payloadmissile and a space launch vehicle is energy and payload– Ballistic missiles accelerate a payload to enough velocity to Ballistic missiles accelerate a payload to enough velocity to

coast on an arc that re-enters the Earth’s atmospherecoast on an arc that re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere– Space launch vehicles lift a payload to the desired altitude and Space launch vehicles lift a payload to the desired altitude and

accelerate it so it has enough velocity to remain in orbitaccelerate it so it has enough velocity to remain in orbit

• Generally, any ballistic missile can be used as a launching platform Generally, any ballistic missile can be used as a launching platform for certain types of anti-satellite weaponsfor certain types of anti-satellite weapons– The altitude to which the missile can reach is roughly half its The altitude to which the missile can reach is roughly half its

missile rangemissile range– Needs to be mated with an interceptor which can perform the Needs to be mated with an interceptor which can perform the

tracking and terminal guidance functionstracking and terminal guidance functions

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• Ballistic missile launched from the ground, aircraft, or naval vessel with Ballistic missile launched from the ground, aircraft, or naval vessel with an interceptor (“kill vehicle”) on topan interceptor (“kill vehicle”) on top

• After missile burnout, interceptor flies on a ballistic arc that intersects After missile burnout, interceptor flies on a ballistic arc that intersects with the orbit of a satellite at a precise timewith the orbit of a satellite at a precise time– Interceptor must provide tracking of target, terminal guidance, and Interceptor must provide tracking of target, terminal guidance, and

capability to maneuver for course correctionscapability to maneuver for course corrections

• Usually no “warhead” is present on the interceptor, target is destroyed Usually no “warhead” is present on the interceptor, target is destroyed through kinetic energy alonethrough kinetic energy alone– Some concepts have considered using nuclear warheadsSome concepts have considered using nuclear warheads

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• Generally work by increasing the surface heating of the targetGenerally work by increasing the surface heating of the target– Can cause rupture and collapse of weak structures under load (like Can cause rupture and collapse of weak structures under load (like

missiles) if held on the target for some period of time (seconds)missiles) if held on the target for some period of time (seconds)– Can blind and damage sensitive opticsCan blind and damage sensitive optics

• Travel to target “at speed of light” (dodging is virtually impossible), can Travel to target “at speed of light” (dodging is virtually impossible), can only target “line of sight”only target “line of sight”

• Dazzling and blinding are proven, destroying or “blowing something up” Dazzling and blinding are proven, destroying or “blowing something up” via laser still not operationally feasiblevia laser still not operationally feasible– Depends greatly on the material and construction of the targetDepends greatly on the material and construction of the target– Painting something white or reflective can degrade the capability of Painting something white or reflective can degrade the capability of

the laser severelythe laser severely

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• An object that is already in orbit that conducts a series of An object that is already in orbit that conducts a series of maneuvers to intercept another satellitemaneuvers to intercept another satellite– Could also lay in wait for target satellite (“space mine”)Could also lay in wait for target satellite (“space mine”)

• Could rely on kinetic energy (collision) alone for destruction, but Could rely on kinetic energy (collision) alone for destruction, but more likely to use other meansmore likely to use other means– Release a cloud of metal pellets (“shotgun blast”)Release a cloud of metal pellets (“shotgun blast”)– Deliver an electromagnetic pulseDeliver an electromagnetic pulse– Explosive chargeExplosive charge– Attach to target and fire thrustersAttach to target and fire thrusters

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• Heavy metal rods released by an orbital platform that re-enter the Heavy metal rods released by an orbital platform that re-enter the atmosphereatmosphere

• Rods have no explosive warheads, damage target through immense Rods have no explosive warheads, damage target through immense kinetic energy alonekinetic energy alone

• System has been discussed in theory but never developed, tested System has been discussed in theory but never developed, tested or deployedor deployed– Implementation poses significant technical challengesImplementation poses significant technical challenges

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• Satellites with lasers on-board that are used to destroy ground Satellites with lasers on-board that are used to destroy ground targets, other satellites, or nuclear warheads on ballistic arcstargets, other satellites, or nuclear warheads on ballistic arcs

• Requires extraordinary amount of power to generateRequires extraordinary amount of power to generate– Some designs called for nuclear explosions to create X-ray lasersSome designs called for nuclear explosions to create X-ray lasers– Current research is attempting to develop chemical laser Current research is attempting to develop chemical laser

sourcessources

• Systems have been theorizes with some design work, but not built, Systems have been theorizes with some design work, but not built, tested, or deployed in spacetested, or deployed in space– Significant technical challenges still remain for operationally Significant technical challenges still remain for operationally

useful systemsuseful systems

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• Any antenna can be turned into a jammer, which can then be used Any antenna can be turned into a jammer, which can then be used to negate or severely hinder a satellites’ ability to broadcast or to negate or severely hinder a satellites’ ability to broadcast or communicatecommunicate– Difficult to entirely prevent or determine un-intentional Difficult to entirely prevent or determine un-intentional

interference, especially in the geostationary beltinterference, especially in the geostationary belt

• Many missile defense technologies have a dual-use as a potential Many missile defense technologies have a dual-use as a potential space weaponsspace weapons– All kinetic hit-to-kill technologies are similar, and differ mainly in All kinetic hit-to-kill technologies are similar, and differ mainly in

maneuverability and tracking capabilitymaneuverability and tracking capability

2020

““The Physics of Space The Physics of Space Security” Security”

by the Union of Concerned by the Union of Concerned Scientists Scientists

(available for free on the Web)(available for free on the Web)

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bweeden@swfound.orgbweeden@swfound.org