From #NYTimes: U.S. warns allies #Russia could put a nuclear weapon into orbit this year. (1/x)
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/world/europe/us-russia-nuclear-weapon-space.html
#NYTimes #Russia "... [I]t would be nested inside a satellite, capable of destroying swarms of commercial and military satellites circulating alongside it in low-earth orbit, including those like Starlink that are remaking global communications capabilities. It was Ukraine’s ability to connect its government, its military and its leadership over Starlink that played a critical role in the country’s survival in the first months after the Russian invasion ..." (2/x)
#NYTimes #Russia "In the analysis that the United States has provided to allies, American officials have said that Mr. Putin may believe that the mere threat of massive disruption — even if it meant blowing up Russia’s own satellites — might infuse his nuclear arsenal with a new kind of deterrent." (3/x)
Okay, my comments ...
When people here have bashed Elon for taking a neutral or even subservient role towards #Russia, I've commented this is why. Russia has already demonstrated an anti-satellite (ASAT) capability in 2021, which even endangered their own crew on #ISS. Putin doesn't care.
Elon and fellow investors have billions invested in #Starlink. That is how he intends to pay for his Mars dreams. Losing Starlink puts SpaceX out of business ... (4/x)
The U.S. military is relying more and more on #Starlink, including an offshoot called #Starshield (see link below). #SpaceX is already considered a critical U.S. asset because its Falcon provides reliable and affordable rapid launch of military payloads. The military is looking at using #Starship as a means of rapid delivery of payloads (cargo or soldiers) in the future ... (5/x)
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-contract-spacex-starshield/
Elon is a douchenozzle, but the reality for now is that no on else on Earth offers what #SpaceX can do. The company has an unmatched talent base.
Hopefully someone else comes along to rival and surpass SpaceX, but today is not that day.
If #Russia launches this weapon, real or dummy, I suspect the USAF will send the #X37B to cozy up to it for surveillance. If Russia launches the weapon, I expect an X-37B launch shortly thereafter.
Fin. (6/6)