series of maneuvers in space. Then, after reaching its destination, it pointed its
antennas towards the lunar lander and towards the ground control center. It has
become a cosmic radio link between the Earth and the Moon, and it might stay
there for decades powered by solar energy.
Furthermore, to be able to communicate without interruption with Queqiao,
Beijing has built two powerful radio telescopes, one in its territory and the other
in Argentina. The first, in southwest China in the mountains of Guizhou, is the
largest in the world, twice the size of that of the famous Arecibo Observatory, now
out of service. It will be used to pick up Queqiao’s messages from deep space and
will be able to identify spy satellites even when they are not transmitting.
98
The
second was built in record time at Quintuco in the Patagonian Desert and is a
modern space control center with a 450-ton antenna as tall a 16-floor building.
Although the official reason for the South American base is to support China’s
lunar exploration mission, the US believes that that antenna is above all a strategic
tool for intercepting communications in the entire western hemisphere.
99
The
small scientific satellite Queqiao, constantly in contact with the large radio telescopes on Earth, could be considered as a sort of peaceful forerunner of a Battle
Star, which takes advantage of an inaccessible, strategic position in deep space.
NASA also plans to reach the Lagrange point in the next decade, sending up the
James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, which
will be welcomed by Queqiao. Today, the US is again strongly interested in the
exploration of the Moon,
100
and NASA is developing two ambitious projects: the
Lunar Orbital Platform Getaway, LOP-G,
101
to orbit the Moon and Artemis,
102
to
land two astronauts on the lunar surface in 2024. Both projects are pursued by
NASA with a strong partnership with private companies.
103
LOP-G appears to be
a more strategic and feasible mid-term objective. It is basically an unmanned automatic platform in lunar orbit that can be visited for short periods by astronauts. It
will not be a station as large as the ISS, but a much smaller structure consisting of
a service module and a pressurized living module, to which NASA and private
98
https://www.newsweek.com/search-aliens-why-china-will-find-them-first-707347.
99
New York Times. 2018. From a Space Station in Argentina, China Expands Its Reach in Latin
America.
100
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-expands-plans-for-moon-exploration-more-missionsmore-science.
101
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-Lunar-outpost-will-extend-human-presence-in-deepspace.
102
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-publishes-artemis-plan-to-land-first-woman-nextman-on-moon-in-2024/.
103
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-names-companies-to-develop-human-landers-forartemis-moon-missions.
Battlestar Galactica: The Space Cyberwar of the Future 117
antennas towards the lunar lander and towards the ground control center. It has
become a cosmic radio link between the Earth and the Moon, and it might stay
there for decades powered by solar energy.
Furthermore, to be able to communicate without interruption with Queqiao,
Beijing has built two powerful radio telescopes, one in its territory and the other
in Argentina. The first, in southwest China in the mountains of Guizhou, is the
largest in the world, twice the size of that of the famous Arecibo Observatory, now
out of service. It will be used to pick up Queqiao’s messages from deep space and
will be able to identify spy satellites even when they are not transmitting.
98
The
second was built in record time at Quintuco in the Patagonian Desert and is a
modern space control center with a 450-ton antenna as tall a 16-floor building.
Although the official reason for the South American base is to support China’s
lunar exploration mission, the US believes that that antenna is above all a strategic
tool for intercepting communications in the entire western hemisphere.
99
The
small scientific satellite Queqiao, constantly in contact with the large radio telescopes on Earth, could be considered as a sort of peaceful forerunner of a Battle
Star, which takes advantage of an inaccessible, strategic position in deep space.
NASA also plans to reach the Lagrange point in the next decade, sending up the
James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, which
will be welcomed by Queqiao. Today, the US is again strongly interested in the
exploration of the Moon,
100
and NASA is developing two ambitious projects: the
Lunar Orbital Platform Getaway, LOP-G,
101
to orbit the Moon and Artemis,
102
to
land two astronauts on the lunar surface in 2024. Both projects are pursued by
NASA with a strong partnership with private companies.
103
LOP-G appears to be
a more strategic and feasible mid-term objective. It is basically an unmanned automatic platform in lunar orbit that can be visited for short periods by astronauts. It
will not be a station as large as the ISS, but a much smaller structure consisting of
a service module and a pressurized living module, to which NASA and private
98
https://www.newsweek.com/search-aliens-why-china-will-find-them-first-707347.
99
New York Times. 2018. From a Space Station in Argentina, China Expands Its Reach in Latin
America.
100
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-expands-plans-for-moon-exploration-more-missionsmore-science.
101
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-Lunar-outpost-will-extend-human-presence-in-deepspace.
102
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-publishes-artemis-plan-to-land-first-woman-nextman-on-moon-in-2024/.
103
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-names-companies-to-develop-human-landers-forartemis-moon-missions.
Battlestar Galactica: The Space Cyberwar of the Future 117