Future Technology Exploration - (Volume A)

Author: Jia Jia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Space Weapons Space is the last virgin land of human warfare. To many people, space warfare seems still very distant. However, if war were to break out in space one day, it might not begin with a spectacular explosion, but rather could unfold quietly. Currently, various countries and governments are strengthening the research and development of space weapons because they deeply understand that establishing a space advantage is essential. Space weapons are generally divided into two categories: one uses the kinetic energy of the explosive body to destroy targets, such as kill satellites and anti-satellite missiles; the other uses laser beams or particle beams to produce thermal, ionization, radiation, and other effects on the target to destroy it, known as "directed-energy weapons." To gain an advantage in the arms race, the two superpowers, the United States and Russia, are actively developing space weapons to counter military satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Kill satellites, also known as intercepting satellites or interceptors, are equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads. When the distance to the target is less than 30 meters, kill satellites explode according to instructions input by ground control stations, using explosion fragments to destroy enemy satellites. Since they rely on their own explosion to destroy enemy satellites, they are destroyed along with the enemy, hence they are called "suicide satellites." Some also refer to them as "space suicide squads." These were an early type of space weapon developed by the United States and the Soviet Union in the past. The Soviet Union began intercepting tests of "suicide satellites" in 1968. After seven trials, they improved these satellites. The improved version did not explode near the target satellite but instead fired a group of bullets into the target satellite within the kill zone, relying on the bullets to destroy the enemy satellite. These satellites replaced radar with infrared detectors, making the success rate of intercepting targets close to 100%, which truly made "suicide satellites" space-based weapons. The United States did not lag behind and quickly developed a more advanced anti-satellite weapon than the Soviet Union's intercepting satellites. This anti-satellite weapon resembles a canning jar, about 45 cm long and 30 cm in diameter, weighing 15 kilograms. When it enters the orbit of an enemy satellite, it can intercept the enemy satellite at a speed of 12 kilometers per second using a direct hit method to destroy the target. The United States also developed a parachute-shaped weapon for intercepting nuclear missiles. It was launched into space by a launch rocket, and the small rockets on it pushed out the parachute-shaped warhead, which then automatically guided itself to the target. As it approached the target, the parachute-shaped warhead unfolded like an umbrella, and the many metal heavy objects attached to the umbrella frame collided with the target, thereby destroying it. This weapon is essentially an interceptor with a simple structure, easy to use, and low manufacturing cost. Anti-satellite missiles have been a long-term focus of the United States in developing space weapons. Since the mid-1970s, the U.S. military has been working on developing small anti-satellite interceptors launched from F-15 fighters in the air. The interceptors are small and lightweight, with many small rockets, each 30 cm long and 20 cm in diameter, installed on a single body. The interceptors are guided by infrared, capable of automatically identifying, tracking, and targeting the enemy. After catching up with the target, the interceptor immediately fires many small rockets at high speed to collide with the target.
Directed-energy weapons are