Lockheed Martin submitted its proposal today for the next phase of Space Fence, a program that will revamp the way the U.S. Air Force identifies and tracks objects in space.
Space Fence will use S-band ground-based radars to provide the Air Force with uncued detection, tracking and accurate measurement of space objects, primarily in low-earth orbit. The geographic separation and the higher wave frequency of the new Space Fence radars will allow for the detection of much smaller microsatellites and debris than current systems. Additionally, Lockheed Martin’s Space Fence design will significantly improve the timeliness with which operators can detect space events which could present potential threats to GPS satellites or the International Space Station.
The current space fence operates near 217 mHz with transmitters in Arizona, Texas, and Alabama. The Texas station operates with 768 kW radiated power and is purportedly the most powerful continuous wave (CW) station in the world. Receiving stations are located in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia. All stations are centered around 32 degrees North Latitude.
The wavelength of 217 mHz is around 4 1/2 feet. The wavelength of S-Band signals (2-4 gHz) is between 1/4 and 1/2 inch.
How can this possibly cost 3.5 Billion dollars? I suspect that a bunch of Ham Radio guys could build it in a long weekend using junkbox parts.
Force projection over the planet’s near space?
Nice job
enough metal in space to start a dyson sphere
Let’s see here. Obama proposes a missile shield for Europe to protect from Iran and then this comes out. How come this was a bad idea when Regan was president? Then Europe complained and now they want one of their own.
We are being “softened up” for something big.
#5 Pumping radio waves through the magnetic field of the earth does zip to the earth which is generating the field nor to the field itself.
The real issue is how much longer are we going to let this hazardous debris build up before we decide to use a heavy laser to vaporize some of it. The vapor might escape orbit or fall from orbit and even what stayed in orbit would be to diffuse to be a major threat.
Of course such a device could be used to terminate satellites…
Hubble’s original focus problems are rumored to be because it was launched in the macro mode. This allowed it to watch the USSR during a rough time.
Last I heard Telstar 1 is still in orbit. In 2012 it will have been orbiting for 50 years. It should make it to the end of (Mayan) time.
Speaking of Telstar
#25,
um, it causes nothing to happen?
I suggest you re-think that.
Think of a magnet and how to turn its force OFF/ON..
We are a giant geomagnetic BALL of magnetic particles. How/what would it take to disrupt this magnetic field. How about ANOTHER magnetic field or an electronic Pulse of freq modulated waves.
Many indoor pistol ranges have a thick steel shield at the back, to deflect the bullets down into sand. Why can’t some kind orbiting “dozer”, with a deflecting plate on the front, be used deflect all those rivets, screws, and paint chips, back the earth so they’ll burn up? The bigger stuff can be snagged, collected, and given a one-way ride to the ocean.
Eventually near space will need a serious cleaning up. And then future delivery vehicles will have to stop blowing fresh bits of metal into orbit, in order to release their payloads. These rocket scientists have been thoughtless polluters, for decades. Using a cheap solution, like exploding bolts, to get the job done. Now we have to spend millions to track all this flying junk they produced. And their only solution seems to be to make it worse, with missile shields and satellite killers. That explode enemy devices while still at their highest altitude. Obviously, the Aerospace lobby keeps at any and all Presidents, to increase their funding. And space garbage collecting isn’t sexy enough.