For over half a century, spy satellites have taken photos and eavesdropped on
the planet. Despite their public statements, both the US and Russia planned to
weaponise space using nuclear warheads as well as lethal anti-satellite weapons,
named ASAT. Many of them have been tested in space. Up to now, these have not
become operational; however, things are rapidly changing, as will be explained in
the second part of this book.
Both the US and Russia detonated nuclear bombs in orbit beyond the Earth’s
atmosphere
23
to test the radiation effects on satellite electrical circuits, despite having signed the UN treaty banning the use of weapons of mass destruction in space.
In the seventies, Moscow launched the Polyot
24
space vehicle, which carried conventional explosives to be detonated alongside enemy satellites. Polyot remained
operative in orbit until 1993, even though Moscow had signed in 1972 the AntiBallistic Missile (ABM) treaty,
25
which intended to limit several types of weapons,
including conventional bombs, in space. The US has developed special air-launched,
anti-satellite, multistage missiles
26
that are capable of destroying a spy satellite at
low altitude. The Air Force plans to keep this weapon operative until 2030.
Even space-based laser technology was researched and tested. In the seventies,
these weapons – based on the transmission of highly concentrated electromagnetic energy – could only be seen in the movies. However, in the eighties, a first
experimental laser was mounted onboard the Spektr
27
module of the Soviet Mir
28
space station. On October 10, 1984, the Shuttle Challenger overflying Russia’s
southern territory was hit by an unidentified laser beam that knocked out some of
the communication equipment and caused minor harm to the astronauts.
29
Obviously, Washington protested, while the Russian government denied all
allegations. No other similar events occurred afterwards, but the political message
had been duly delivered.
That laser beam hit the shuttle only a few days after President Ronald Reagan’s
public announcement about the space shield, the ultimate space-based system to
destroy all Russian nuclear missiles, which will be discussed in the next chapter.
It was therefore most likely a demonstrative act of political retaliation by the
Russians, as the shuttle was the symbol of US space superiority.
23
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/going-nuclear-over-the-pacific-24428997/.
24
Preston, Robert, Dana J. Johnson, Sean J. A. Edwards, Michael D. Miller, and Calvin
Shipbaugh. 2002. Space Weapons Earth Wars. Santa Monica: RAND Publication.
25
http://www.state.gov/t/isn/trty/16332.htm.
26
https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/first-space-ace-180968349/.
27
Kramer, Herbert J. 2002. Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions
and Sensors. Cham: Springer Science & Business Media, 42.
28
To be noted that the word mir means world or peace in Russian.
29
Villain, Jacques. 2009. Satellites espions: histoire de l’espace militaire mondial. Paris:
Vuibert, 53.
38 Beyond the Movies: The Real War for Space We Never Saw on Screen
the planet. Despite their public statements, both the US and Russia planned to
weaponise space using nuclear warheads as well as lethal anti-satellite weapons,
named ASAT. Many of them have been tested in space. Up to now, these have not
become operational; however, things are rapidly changing, as will be explained in
the second part of this book.
Both the US and Russia detonated nuclear bombs in orbit beyond the Earth’s
atmosphere
23
to test the radiation effects on satellite electrical circuits, despite having signed the UN treaty banning the use of weapons of mass destruction in space.
In the seventies, Moscow launched the Polyot
24
space vehicle, which carried conventional explosives to be detonated alongside enemy satellites. Polyot remained
operative in orbit until 1993, even though Moscow had signed in 1972 the AntiBallistic Missile (ABM) treaty,
25
which intended to limit several types of weapons,
including conventional bombs, in space. The US has developed special air-launched,
anti-satellite, multistage missiles
26
that are capable of destroying a spy satellite at
low altitude. The Air Force plans to keep this weapon operative until 2030.
Even space-based laser technology was researched and tested. In the seventies,
these weapons – based on the transmission of highly concentrated electromagnetic energy – could only be seen in the movies. However, in the eighties, a first
experimental laser was mounted onboard the Spektr
27
module of the Soviet Mir
28
space station. On October 10, 1984, the Shuttle Challenger overflying Russia’s
southern territory was hit by an unidentified laser beam that knocked out some of
the communication equipment and caused minor harm to the astronauts.
29
Obviously, Washington protested, while the Russian government denied all
allegations. No other similar events occurred afterwards, but the political message
had been duly delivered.
That laser beam hit the shuttle only a few days after President Ronald Reagan’s
public announcement about the space shield, the ultimate space-based system to
destroy all Russian nuclear missiles, which will be discussed in the next chapter.
It was therefore most likely a demonstrative act of political retaliation by the
Russians, as the shuttle was the symbol of US space superiority.
23
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/going-nuclear-over-the-pacific-24428997/.
24
Preston, Robert, Dana J. Johnson, Sean J. A. Edwards, Michael D. Miller, and Calvin
Shipbaugh. 2002. Space Weapons Earth Wars. Santa Monica: RAND Publication.
25
http://www.state.gov/t/isn/trty/16332.htm.
26
https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/first-space-ace-180968349/.
27
Kramer, Herbert J. 2002. Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions
and Sensors. Cham: Springer Science & Business Media, 42.
28
To be noted that the word mir means world or peace in Russian.
29
Villain, Jacques. 2009. Satellites espions: histoire de l’espace militaire mondial. Paris:
Vuibert, 53.
38 Beyond the Movies: The Real War for Space We Never Saw on Screen