US robotic shuttle: first steps towards weaponisation of space?

[Abdussamad]

I saw this news item online about a US unmanned space shuttle that could be the first step towards an armed and maneuverable space ship. Would like to hear more opinions from other members about this development. Will it lead to a space arms race?

The United States Air Force insists the robotic space shuttle it tested last week is not a weapon, but the X-37B clearly has huge implications for the future of nuclear deterrence and space surveillance. With the possible capability to stay in orbit for months while bombarding the Earth and shooting down rival country's satellites, Iran in particular fears the spacecraft signals a coming US militarization of space

Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs
Asia Times Online :: China News, China Business News, Taiwan and Hong Kong News and Business.


Its ironic that the obama administration cut NASA's budget but the defence arm has no qualms about spending secretly to build space shuttles for its own aims. Even in times of crisis their defence forces are not taking a pay cut but instead increasing spending. Its like japan in world war 2 - an increasingly militaristic government.

 

[pak-yes]

It is very Ironic that so called Peaceful and civilized nation of the world that now says to end the Nuclear Weapons was the first to introduce this weapon.

Not only that but then they also made ridiculously huge numbers of them.

And when their Prime Enemies aka Soviets have been destroyed they are demanding that Pakistan also ends it's Nukes.Hypocrites.

 

[lhuang]

^

Meh the future of the humanity, or atleast the humanity contained within the countries that develop such technology is in the planets and then the stars.

USA is the first to do it, other countries, China, Russia, Europe, India with their AVATAR will follow.

 

[Abdussamad]

^

Meh the future of the humanity, or atleast the humanity contained within the countries that develop such technology is in the planets and then the stars.

USA is the first to do it, other countries, China, Russia, Europe, India with their AVATAR will follow.

Ah nice. Very beautiful sci fi image comes to my mind when I read your post. Humanity's future is to colonise space!. So where do I go to get my interstellar travel passport?

 

[Mauryan]

Believe me or not, future wars will be deadly and of short span.
It will be like boom!! boom!!! boom!!!...... At most 5 days or a week......

With the advanced technologies in hand, and the uncertainity of the enemy pressing his red button, no one wants to take chance for a second strike,instead will go for the first strike.

If you see the countries that pledged for mutual assured destruction,the number is going upwards.

It was said that India does have an intention to change its NFU policy towards a mutual assured destruction due to the change in geo-politics and the aggressive nature of enemies on the other side of borders.

It shouldnt be taken as a surprise,if tomorrow we got to hear that US/Russia/India/China put as many nuclear warheads in space for assured mutual destruction. There was a concept thats been on design tables for many years ,which calls for having a large number of warheads in space.The system will be in standby mode,untill it receives a threat activation signal.And in the next few minutes ,each MARV will be assigned targets. this will make the interception of the incoming MARV very unlikely due to its short intimation.And the warheads just droping from the outer space is a one big ****** job.

Also,in any future hi-tech war,there will be no solo winner. It will be all loosers no matter what,unless its a war against a similar counterpart.

If its a war against a non-nuclear nation,its a one sided winning.

 

[Avatar]

^

Meh the future of the humanity, or atleast the humanity contained within the countries that develop such technology is in the planets and then the stars.

USA is the first to do it, other countries, China, Russia, Europe, India with their AVATAR will follow.

This is but a stepping stone to the future. I believe that if we are to settle beyond Earth, then we have to look beyond our boundaries, religions and beliefs. We have to go there as EARTH and not USA or China or Russia.

 

[Abdussamad]

This is but a stepping stone to the future. I believe that if we are to settle beyond Earth, then we have to look beyond our boundaries, religions and beliefs. We have to go there as EARTH and not USA or China or Russia.

Nah humanity is not going to change regardless of our scientific progress. Our ancestors fought with sticks and stones, today we fight with jets and tanks and in the future we'll be fighting with space ships. Competition among nations is actually going to boost any venture into space. Just look at how little progress has been made in manned space flight since the late sixties. We need competition to spur spending on manned space exploration.