Chapter 4

INTELLIGENCE WAR IN SPACE

T.he task of destroying the enemy's ICBM's throughout their trajectory,

and in boost phase, calls for comprehensrve mountrng rn space a

constellation of near earth components of the defensive system. These

may be both weapons on their components and various surveillance

acquisition, tracking, control and power supply, to support the space

defensive system.

"Gaining the "high ground" has been the goal of every commander

right from Hannibal to Mac Arthur. An arrow fired from the top of a hill flies

farther and hits harder than the one let loose from a valley. Even in modern

Warfare, with highly sophisticated artillery, it is easier to strike from a higher

point to a lower one than the other way around. But holding the high ground

has another advantage that has nothing to do with throw weights or

trajectory. Very simply, it is much easier to spy down from a hill, than to spy

up from a valley." 1

U-2 provided the much needed high ground during 1956-1962 and in

later stages SR-71 prove to be more effective for gathering intelligence.

Discoverer and Samas, were the first two American spy satellite series

which lead to the present generation of the Keyhole satellites. On 6th

October 1961 Kennedy had shown the photographs of Soviet missile·

bases. taken by satellite to the Soviet Foreign Minister. Andrei

1. Yost. Graham, SPYTECH {London, 1985), p- 48.

88

Gromyko.The ambiguous ·missile gap' which led to a search of proper

space intelligence with a come out, that it favoured the Americans.

Konstantin Tsiolkosky, a school master derived the ideal rocket

equation, and he use it to prove that rockets could operate even in the

vaccum of space. Tsiolkovsky is also concerned with the building rockets

in stages, an idea that was to be crucial in the early rocket programmes.

On other hand two American pioneer Robert Goddard and Herman Oberth

launched the world's first liquid propellant rocket March 16th 1926 after

the World War. Oberth who designed and built littler's V rockets and he

later helped both USA and former U.S.S.R. in their own infant rocket

programme. After World War II, Project RAND was commissioned by U.S.

Airforce to study the feasibility of launching a satellite into orbit. On the

report he suggested, "We can see no more clearly all the utility sea fleets

of B-29s bombing Japan and air transporters circling the globe though the

crystal tall is cloudy, two things seems clear:

1. Satellite vehicle with appropriate instrumentation can be expected

to be one of the most potent scientific tools of the twentieth century:

2. The achievement of a satellite craft by the United Sates would 1nflame

the imagination of mankind and would probably produce

repercussions in the world comparable to the explosion of the atomic

bomb. It should also be remarked that the satellite offers an

observation aircraft that cannot be brought down by an enemy who

X9

has not mastered similar techniques. Perhaps the two most 1mportant

classes of observation which can be made from a satellite are the

spotting of points of impacts of bombs. and the observation of

weather condition over the enemy territories.";>

Later in June 1954, a joint Army Navy project named as Orbiter which

was based on the Hon.Braun's proposal, suggested that the US military

missile system could be used to launch a satellite in space After Orbiter,.

Vanguard was launched with a view to protect secrets from public

disclosure. Vanguard was responsible for several key innovations in

spacecraft design.

MILITARIZATION OF SPACE

"For Generals educated in the tradition of Napoleon, space was the

new 'high ground', once 'captured', it offered control of the terntory below

and left other nations in their mercy."

Technological advancement and man's capabilities into new environment

have gone hand-in-hand with their military exploitation. Military war machine·

has extended its arm into a new wide open space to shift man's potential to

fight above the earth. Space has become an essential element of the strategic

balance. Thus when the USA and former USSR began their space programmes

in the late 1950s a military presence in space was widely expected

2. Flynn NigeiWar In Space(Leicester U.K. Windsward. 1986),

p - 102.

90

The dawn of space age initiated the possibility of orbital bombs of

space-based axle ballistic missiles, and of the military values of bases in

orbit, on the moon, and even Mars. Due to variety of technical, economical

and policy limitations, many of these space ·weapons' were slow to arrive.

These space weapons initiated a chain reaction in space weaponary. All

resources were diverted to select and place a suitable answer to the

enemy's new find.

As a result of this activity, space has become an essential element of

the strategic balance. The fundamental component of this balance are

terrestrial weapons and satellites, which have become targets for disruption.

by the hostile forces Technological advancement in this field has led to a

renewed focus on anti-satellite system which can perform the disruptive

task. Two significant trends recently emerged, and are likely to affect

radically the future militarization of space. The first is the development of

weapons for use in or from space, the second is the proliferation of nations

wishing to exploit the military advantages of the medium.

During World War II, the strategic potentials of space were first

seriously, recognized. During this war, the German Dr. Engene Sanger

investigated the concept of an antipodal bomber capable of carrying the

war to the US mainland by employing short exoatmospheric forays and

skip glide re-entry techniques. In 1951, Dr. Walter R. Dornberger, former

head of the German Peenemunde Rocket Research Centre was studying

the potentials of a new two stage manned missile, Bombi (Bomber M1ssile)

C)J

Initially Bomber was to be similar to Sanger's antipodal bomber. but later

designs envirisioned envisioned true or batal mission. By 1955, the

inevitability of artificial satellite Earth satellites was apparent the debate

which surrounded this initially controversial efforts was primarily directed

towards the utility or futility of satellite as the legitimate extensions of

commercial and military requirements. Long before the launch of Sputnik

I, there were a number of surveillance satellite projects like Programme

WS-117L, underway in the U.S. and by 1957 the first US antisatellite

programme, Saint (Satellite Interceptor), had reached a Systems

Development Requirement level.

Military satellites are of increasing importance across the spectrum of

military activity, right from day to day maintenance to all out war. Doctnnes

for limited nuclear war counter force attaches could not even be conceivable·

without satellites. Continuous scanning of the enemy territory by imaging

reconnaissance satellites is the only way that missile silos and other military

target could have been precisely mapped. Geodatic satellite have

contributed towards a precise gravitational mapping of the Earth necessary

fer the most accurate working of missile guidance system to submarine

based missile as accurate as today's ICBM's.

A protracted nuclear near doctrine calls for enduring a 'strategic

connectivity for a survivable warning system and for continu1ng target

reconnaissance. Studies conducted by the Pentagon proved that ..

"Extended survivability of U.S. tactical warning and attack assessment

system is becoming a matter of increasing importance, aris1ng from the

need to provide information for the management of strategic forces

STRATEGIC CONNECTIVITY: The ability to receive reports from far

flung forces and to direct them towards new targets during the pre-trans-

and post attack periods induding escalation central, oderly and controlled

termination of conflict and management of residual and rescrue forces." 1'

Satellites would play an important role in the event of the outbreak of

a nuclear war, because intercontinental ballistic missiles take about 30

minutes to travel between Russia and the United States, Early warning

satellite have at least marginally contributed to some crisis stability between

the superpowers. The early warning systems also hold open the possibility

of launch on-warning or launch-under-attack postures for the land based

missiles.

Communication satellites are the hot lines between strategic planner

and field commanders. They would be particularly important to highly co-.

ordinated and highly sophisticated strikes by nuclear weapons based in a

single continent. Two categories of satellites which realy plays an important

role in the space intelligence system are communication and early warning

satellites. In most of the cases the military satell!tes accomplish a task

3. Testimony of Harry L. Van Trees in the US Congress, Senate

Committee on Armed S ervi cesOe partm e nt of 0 efe n ce

Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1962_on S .615.

97th Congress, 1st Session 1981, p.4205.

93

which can be defined as auxiliary or instrumental to other more d1rect

military activities. A number of satellites can serve a dual purpose 1.e.

military as well as civlian. The categorization must widely used in today's

literature on the subject which defines as military satellite the broad range

reconnaissance and surveillance satellites, the auxiliary satellites wh1ch

includes communication, meteorological and geodetic and the thnd one is

anti-satellite (ASAT).

For the long distances C41 and CM activities the communication

satellites are mainly employed and they come under auxiliary category.

Considering their greater reliability and rapidity, communications via

satellites can also prevent the lack of information, false alarm and

autonomous decisions by military commanders. Navigational satellites are

used to accurately guide missiles to their target and help ships and aircraft.

These satellites are used to navigate, to locate the enemy position on

land and to provide accurate information about their movements.

Communication and navigational satellites are supported by meteorological

satellites, and provide information about weather conditions prevailing over

the enemy territories.

Geodatic satellites determine tile exact position of a target as well as

the gravitational field which controls the path of a missile. During the Gulf

War, tile Americans cruise missiles proved the importance of these

satellites as they hit the target with precised accuracy Early warnmg

satellites also belong to a broad category of satellites performing the task

of serveillance. A system capable of detecting from a great distance the

launching of any kind of missile is to be considered as a stabilizing one·

since it makes a surprise attack less probable and less rewarding. The

possibility of being alerted at the earliest moment to any missile take off

not ony enhances stability but constitutes together with appropriate

measures of notifications and a reliable communication system between

adversaries, and an important and effective confidence building measure,

especially in the nuclear field. The reconnaissance and surveillance

satellites which perform an ever increasing role of a watchdog in space

for proper verifications of arms control and disarmament agreements.

Now, its time to understand the useful characteristics of the space

· FREEG' is the mantra to understand them.

F- Flexibility

Manual and unmanned space systems provide flexibility in meeting

requirements on a timely, accurate and reliable basis.

R- Redundancy :

Functions accomplished both in space and the terrestrial environment

provide mutual back up and complicate hostile attempts to neutralise our

overall military capability.

E- Economy and Effectiveness :

Some functions can be performed more economically from or through

9S

space. Some example global weather monitoring intelligence and early

warning systems.

E- Efficiency :

C&l & CM can be performed with efficiency from space.

G - Global coverage :

Space based systems in appropriate orbital deployments prov1des

world wide coverage a frequent access to specific location on earth,

including those denied to terrestrial force on a recurring basis.

On the basis of FREE-G the Soviet space control objectives, therefore

include:

1. Unhampered utilisation of space assets to further the Soviet system

and goals

2. Support of Soviet tactical and strategic strike capabilities:

3. Prevention of the use of space by the enemy for military, political or

economic gain.

4. Protection of Soviet client state territories from enemy threats.

5. Protection of Soviet tactical and strategic operation.

The protection of Soviet strike forces with or from space resources

has been primarily passive till now. Space surveillance of enemy

attack preparations also tries to enhance. Soviet str1ke force

protection and survivability. The monitoring of enemy re-al1gnment

of strategic air forces or of unusual or large deployments of navy

fleet can allow time for Soviet responses which might either forestall

the enemy attack. To accomplish this goal, the Soviets specifically

launche·d twenty five photographic reconnaissance satellites each

year explicitly for medium and high resolution surveillance of potential

enemy forces and reserves. In addition, between 1978 and 1986

Soviet Salyutt and space stations have, on an average, been manned

for 180 days each year, providing additional intelligence gathering

facility.

U.S.MILITARY IN SPACE

Project RAND was sponsored by the U.S.Airforce to study space.

While the report was entitled "Preliminary Design for an experimental

spaceship", it dealt primarily with the use of satellite and uses of space.

Military communications, weather surveillance and satellite reconnaisance

were among the subjects deemed feasible in this study.

Primary involvement in space activities began with missile

development. "The militarization of outer space began just over a year

after the launching of Sputnik 1 in October 1957 with the launch of the first

military-related satellite in December 1958. Less than a year later. the

tests for anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons began. Thus, militarizationof this

environment occurred very rapidly into two stages; first marked by the

introduction of artificical satellites to enhance the Earth based weapon

systems; and second by beginning the development of weapons to be

aimed at and used against military satellites."4

The missiles designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons served as

space launch vehicles for both the USA and the USSR, Space launch

vehicles had been simultaneously developed with the missiles

programmes. In 1961 ,the US Army developed the Redstone rocket which

took the first Mercury astronatus on their sub-orbital flights. The Navy and

the Air Force had a variety of projects involving Viking ·rockets for high

altitude meteorological research and the IRBMs and ICBMs.

In 1955, the Eisenhower Administration had attempted an unsuccessful

launch of satellite. The role of the US military in space quickly transcended

the provisions of launch vehicles. The military services for the past three

decades, have been engaged in a competition for space missions and

budgetary allocation.

"Eisenhower, however, continued to emphasise the scientific

importance of space and noted that the Sputnik, itself had little military

significance. In the wake of political outcry over the Sputnik, in 1958. the

primary responsibility for the US space effort was g1ven to a new Civilian·

agency- National Aeronautiss and Space Administration (Nf\SA),had

proposed a US manned mission known as MISS (Man in Space Soonest)

4 Bhupinder JasaniSp~g~ WeaR_9ns The Arms ContrdiJilemrna

(SIPRI, Stcokholm. 1986), p- 26.

t}t}

but the effort was successfully opposed in the Administration.

Robert McNamard secretary of Defense during Kennedy Administration

cancelled a series of military space programmes including the Dyna-Soar·

and Blue Gemini manned project, and effectively starved the Manned

Orbiting Laboratory, although only after sl.4 billion was spent on the

projects. 5

THE SOVIET MILITARY IN SPACE

The military sector in the USSR has greatest access to the available

technological resources necessary for any type of space programme. The

Soviets have never admitted to possessing a military space programme,

and therefore an assessment of this programme must be based on a variety

of indirect information. The bulk of Soviet military space activities, like

those of the USA, consist of passive satellites for enhancing the ground

based systems.

While Soviet military launchings are generally hidden under the

Cosmos label, their purposes can usually be discerned through an anaiysis

of their orbits and launch sites, Electronic intelligence and forret flights

can be identified in comparison with the US satellites known to have a

similar function. For some years, the Kettering Grammar school in England

analysed the radio signals from the Soviet space system and determtned

the probable nature of the satellite. On the basis of this evtdence. 1t 1s

5. William Kaufmann.The McNamara's Strateg\(New York:

Harper and Row, 1964), p , 63.

Orbolal sp1c~ corr.~ ler-Cosmos i 4H, Salyut 7. Soyuz T9

CO<tnOS 1 «3 S..tell itc cnlt

I . Attur~lt ~~r~tus 2.Sor., b•tt•rv J .PISW90 C . fo.~ tanlo. S. F\.:nct,on~: s.e1"'oo.Ce ua: •on 6.t ... :rr:"\ll P4~ f"41t:l"' 7 . R ~~~r doc<ing ~~~1 6. \l•: ing unit

Sofvut lt.lti()f"1

9.E'IA hale!! IQ.f'.,\o>IJf comparlmtnl 1 1 .Addition•' YJ!.!r hauery 1? y, ;,.. so : ~r bal:try 13 . Wor~ : n~ CO'Tll'l'lment 14.! ;'1 1- trumentat ion compartrr.ent 15 .?a"•~ c~am!:>er lo .Ra<lar dock ing ~ri al 17 ?ropu ls,O:"'l compartmtnt

Soyuz T9 TnnSI)ort ship

IS. living quarcers 19. Living qu1rters hatch ZO.Sotar batttry 21.0esccnt module 22 .1nstrumentation compartment

I /

I .\ I

apparent that more than half the satellites launched by the USSR until

now are military satellites.

According to the US Congressional Research service of 2135 payloads

launched between 1957 and 1980, about 1,234 were "primarily military" in

nature. 6

In April 1955 a page one storey in Vechemyaya Moskna announced

the creation of a permanent Organisation within the Soviet Academy of

Sciences named the Commission of Interplanetary Communications. An

explicit task of this new commission was to organize the work concerned

with building an automatic laboratory (i.e. satellite) for scientific research

in space. Four months later the south officially announced their intention to

orbit an artificia: Earth sateliite in cunjuci:ion with the internationai

Geophysical Year.7

The summer of 1962 had seen the simultaneous flights of manned

Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 Spaceship which attested to the considerable·

capabilities of the Soviet rocket scientists both in daring and accuracy.

Such a feat was not planned by the United States for several years to

come.

Karl Von clausewitz, 19th century Prussian military strategist has

influenced the communist party movement. In volume Ill of his remarkable

6. Narcia, Smith,Spce Activities of the United States, Soviet

Union and other launching States Organisations 1957-83

(London, 1985), p 262.

7. Jon Nicholas L,Soviet Military Strategy In Spac¢London

Jane's Pub. 1987), p 17.

/{)(}

treatise, on war, Von Clausewitz asserts that, "War is nothing but a

continuation of political intercourse with mixture of other means."!!

It was Lenin himself who redefined "other means" to include "forcible

means" Thus Lenin endorsed the belief that war was only a violent extension

of~p-olitics and therefore a legitimate tool in international relations. This is

the cornerstone of Soviet Strategy and is a viable one today in space age.

In the 1960s the Soviet Union seriosly began to challenge the existing

American supremacy in two different regimes; the terrestrial seas and the·

seas of space. Analogously, at the begining of any conflict in outer space,

or even during high levels of terrestrial conflicts, the Soviet Union would

need to establish and maintain selective, if not universal, space

controi,While thespace operations which are concerned only with protection

of national space assets and the denial to the enemy of life space based

resources in this context space control is viewed as all actions required to

project and employ military power offensive and defensive through space

while simultaneously dening the enemy similar capabilities.

ASAT'S

With the development of sophisticated military satellites two super-

power armed forced rely to an extent 80 percent on sate II ite

communications. It was inevitable that anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons would,

sooner or later, be developed, within a few years of the first satellite being

8. Daras ThomasThe New High Ground System And Weapons

Or Space Age Wa«Kent; New English 1983), p, 60.

1 ()/

launched in October 1957, Space engineers, both in the East and the

West, were devising the ways of shooting them down. SAINT (Satellite

Interceptor) is the system in which satellite enterceptor monoeuvred 1tself

into the path of a 'target' satellite with a combination of small propulsion

rockets, homing radar and television camera. Its task was two told, to

perfect the technique of satellite manoeuvring in space and to carry out a

detailed inspection of enemy satellites would result in its interception and

destruction.

In the mid of 1982 NATO intelligence expert have had formed the firm

opinion that the erst while Soviet union had, at long last deployed their

ASAT system. On June 18,1982. Cosmos 1379 blasted off from Tyuratum·

cosmodrome in central Asia into the orbit of Cosmos 1375-a target satellite

launched 12 days earlier. Under the guidance of ground Central. Cosmos

1379 was manoeuvred on to the flight path of the target satellite. 965 km

above the Earth. Cosmos 1379 on this occasion flew past its target and

30 minutes later 43-entered the Earth atmosphere. The demonstration

made clear, however, the former soviet ability to seek out and destroy

·enemy's satellite Few hours later a ·seven hour nuclear war' started

significantly the war starts with an attack on low flying satellites Without

its spy satellites US would not know which missile had been forced or be

able to locate missile firing submarines or observes the reload1ng of certain

nuclear missile silos. After blinding the enemy's eyes, the exerc1se

simulated a 'first strike' usmg ICBM. and IRBMS against selected targets

/02

in Europe and United Statds. This was followed by swiftly by a more

concentrated 'second strike' from submerged submarines F1nally the

exercise tested the Soviet ability to shoot down incoming nuclear tipped

ICBMs with X-3 anti-ballistic missiles.

The first and best known, ASAT is the so-called co-orbital mterceptor

that was firsttested in 1968. The killer satellite status its target dunng the

course of one or two complete earth orbits, constantly drawing closer to it

while tracking with either imaging radar or infrared sensors When ASAT

is within the lethal range, it explodes, sending a first clad of pellets or

sharpnel into its target.

Relative to former soviet co-orbital satellites, the U.S. direct ascent

system is a model of sophistication. It is an 18 foot cong two stage rocket

designed to be carried under the belley of a fighter aircraft and launched

toward an enemy satellite from an altitude of about forty thousand feet.

The missile which is accelerated by its two boosters to a speed of about

thirty thousand miles an hour while it nose cone seperates and falls away

exposing a miniature Homing Vehicle (MHN) than it same into the target.

The U.S. ASAT has at least three advantages over its Russian co­

orbital counterpart. Since it aircraft launched, ir can be used from any

place where airplane can ope-rate including air carriers. This gives it

considerable logistical flexibility. Second it is easily hidden and 1s therefore

difficult to locate by the very reconnaissance satellites that would constitute

I fl3

some of its most important targets. Finally its considerable log1st1cal

flexibility tiny size and terrific speed made it extremely difficult to spot,

evade or repel.

"The US system may not in itself change the balance of power m

space, Indeed, the argument for it is that i1 is needed to compensate for

other Soviet capabilities- their oceans surveillance systems. The residual

vulnerability can be reduced provided, that a treaty regime prevents further

evolution of ASAT capabilities. It would be possible to mon1tor the

dismantling of launch sties that have been used in ASAT test" ''

LASERS:

Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.The

ambitious schemes of all prospects the use of high energy, subatomic

particle beams in the anti ballistic missile role. Particle weapons in space

would require gaint nuclear accelerators of emprecedented power. The

Defense Advanced Reasearch Projects Agency DARPA, has a program

called Alpha designed to produce a 5 mega watt laser for a space platform.

It could damage other satellites perhaps high attitude aircrafts as well.

Seabased missiles or land based missiles would be vulnerable to

space laser attack would be during the period in which they have cleared

most of the atmosphere and in which their rockets are still finng the boost

phase. This phase lasts about five to eight minutes If the laser can Stay

9. Carter, Ashton B. ·satellite and Ant1satellltes'

INTERNATIONAL SECURIT~2 (8) Spr1ng 1986. pp 52-54

/04

Ground-b.L.~J laser

:-__ ~ Space-based beam weapons

U.S. $&:bmnine

• . Pop-up defence

focused on the missile long enough, it can melt gthe skin and probably

throw the missibe off course. Generating enough lasers power to knock

out missiles is just part of the task of putting together a space laser ABM

system. To focus and aim the laser beam at target from 600 to 3000 miles

away, will require enormous mirrors of exquisite optical quality, extra

ordinary durability and ultra light weight. The target detectors for the space

based laser ABM system will have to do more than pick rocket flames at

anywhere from 800 to 3000 miles away. The Russians could spoof the

system by firing off thousands of flares just before launching their rockets ..

It might be possible to design sensors that could sort out the real missiles

by the methods of infrared radiation.

Against laser attack it is suggested to have laser countermeasures,

by coating or missiles with highly reflective materials have +he missile

secrete a layer of fluid from its nose, absorbing the laser energy in the

way that an ablative coating would simply spin the missile, reducing the

amount of time that any one section of its surface is exposed to the laser

beam. 10

The survivability of the laser weapon system against a concentrated

enemy attack is a matter of concern. There is little doubt that, like most

weapon systems, space based laser battle station could be destroyed by

dedicated attack. The miniature vehicle can be launched by a fighter aircraft,

that would be much more difficult to detect than ICBM launch. Another

10. Flynn Nigel War in Space (Leicester U.K. Wind sward. 1986). p- 125

/05

threat to the space launched laser is the "space mine", wh1ch explode

automatically." 11

Strong proponents of space based weapons deem the doctnne of

MAD as immoral. It makes our primary strategic object1ve the mass

destruction of people rather them the running of war. MAD (Mutual Assured

Destruction) doctrine supposedly requires that our only defense agamst a

soviet attack be the threat to retaliate wqith mass nuclear destruction of

the Soviet population. Lasers advocates also thinks that Pentagon experts

are simply committed to the doctrine of MAD and therefore are aga1nst

any ABM sysstem on blind principle.

ASAT system pose ohter problems, ABM (Anti Ballistic M1ssile)

development is identical to ASAT development and both sides can take

further development which is prohibited by 1972 ABM treaty, under the

guise of ASAT research. Another problem which haunts experts mmds is

the potential of easily concealed, high confidence ASAT weapons to VIolate

1972 agreement.

SATELLITE SYSTEM SURVIVABILITY

As a result or the growing vulnerability of Earth satellites and related

ground systems a considerable effort is underway in the bothspace

superpower, to develop methods of making satellites more autonomous

so that they function, as much as possible, independent o1 the grour1d

11 C h i s to p h e r. M e red it h S p a c e We a p o n s - D e!~s:re n cg __ 9_1

Delu.§l9n(Combndge; Polity Press, 1986), p 53

I()()

systems. Efforts to make satellites less vulnerable include hardening

satellites, particularly from the points of view of an attack from lasers and

EMP loom methods are being developed to warn satellites of the approach

of an unfriendly space craft as well as to make the communications systems

free of interference. Another concepts involves the designs of satellites·

which are not easily observable. These are the so-called ·dark satellites'

orbited at attitudes beyond the range of surveillance sensors A dark

satellite would remain inactive in the depth of space until a signal were

sent to it move into an operational orbit and begin it required mission. Yet

another methods being investigated is to use large numbers of stellites or

as decoy. Above all, satellites of the future are being designed with

considerable manoeuvrability so as to evade an attacking interceptor

SATKA (Surveillance, Acquisition, Tracking and kill Asseassment). It

requires the development off sensors and techniques to provide immediate,.

reliable and detailed information about enemy missile attack.The intense

infrared radiation generated by the booster rockets can easily be detected

at great distance. On the basis of the information supplied by the SAKTA

sensors the weapon would need to be directed towards the1r targets.

Homing hit to kill enterceptor could be of the 'fire-and-forget' type but most

directed energy weapon would require very precise pointing and tracking

systems.

In summary, SATKA requirements impose formidable technological

demands. detection and accurate tracking of the component of an ICBM's

I 0 7

attack during its various stages are at least conceivable w1th the sensors

system currently being developed, even if they are not expected to be

achieved for some considerable time. However, reliable d1scmnmat1on of

decoys, especially when used in conjunction with draff and aerosols. would

inevitably be a still more difficult task against a ditermined opponent

Military Satellites

After the launch of Sputnik I, it was the Americans who rapidly took

the lead. Whereas American photoreconnaissance satellites who began

providing intelligence gathering services by August 1960, it took Soviets

almost three years before their cosmos recommaissance satellites were

in regular operations. Incoming Kennedy Administration in January 1961,

took immediate decisions of the impose total black out on all

recommaissance satellites launches. Total 66 US military satellites were

successfully launched in 1966 compared to 22 in 1971 and 16 in 197 4 By

the early 1980s over 2000 satellites were launched since Sputnik -1

Seventy four percent of 2000 satellites had been used for military roles. 12

Recommaissance Satellite

American LEO photo-reconnaissance satellite have longer life span

than their Russian counterparts. Reconnaissance satellites are classified

under five categories.

12 Hele, Desmond King,Observing Earth Satell1t_§Lond. Van

Nost Randrenhold Co. 1983), p- 28.

/08

CIRCUMTERRESTRIAL ORfll I::; Typ~s an<11nclinatlons

LEGENDS

LEO· Lnw r.:.rth nrhit MEO· Mr•rli11m r>~rth orhit GEO: G"o~ynchronous orhit HEO: Hiqh ei!rth orbit

lll ()

l GfO

~ 7? ')(jr)

"I I J

/7 :Hill '.(J(}fJI) •

~ 1 I Jl

HHI :· ;• ~~ 1( l

© \ I

''"~ -----MIO

, I. ro. ~~~n r.vnr:llrnnnu~

2. MrO. pobr nrhrt

:1. l ;r:o. ''""·,'''""! 4 [r.r.f'ntru:: orbit,

ovrri:Jp<; LFO. M[O, HrO

.,,

rlf){H\,.,.·,,.,,

L ,, -------·--·-·

/ Ill fl

Ill (l

1

·-l

I I I

I

I I I

----··-- - .... .J

1. Photographic

2. Electronic Intelligence

3. Ocean Surveillance

4. Early Warning Satellite

5. Nuclear Explosion detection.

Electronic Intelligence Satellite

These type of satellites are used to monitor military, diplomatic and

other radio communications telementery of test weapon or microwaves.

pulses emitted by the ship defence radar.

Now-a-days it is in use to monitor country's own citizen or togater

economic intelligence.

Ocean-reconnaissance sate411ites

ORS can carry sideways looking radars to enable them to locate ships

and take other maritime measurements in all weather and at all times of

day. Very precise satellite radar, using 'synthetic aperture technique, may

shortly be able to measure the level of the sea so accurately as to detect

passage of a submarine beneath its surface in areas.

Early Warning Satellites

EWS are equipped with infrared detectors which can provide either

superpower with about 30 minutes warning of an attack by the ballistic

I 09

1 . Photographic

2. Electronic Intelligence

3. Ocean Surveillance

4. Early Warning Satellite

5. Nuclear Explosion detection.

Electronic Intelligence Satellite

These type of satellites are used to monitor military, diplomatic and

other radio communications telementery of test weapon or microwaves.

pulses emitted by the ship defence radar.

Now-a-days it is in use to monitor country's own citizen or togater

economic intelligence.

Ocean-reconnaissance sate411ites

ORS can carry sideways looking radars to enable them to locate ships

and take other maritime measurements in all weather and at all times of

day. Very precise satellite radar, using 'synthetic aperture technique, may

shortly be able to measure the level of the sea so accurately as to detect

passage of a submarine beneath its surface in areas.

Earjy_Wa-ming Satellites

EWS are equipped with infrared detectors which can provide either

superpower with about 30 minutes warning of an attack by the ballistic

I 09

missiles. America has three Geostatenery early warning Defuse support

program. Soviets has its early warning satellites are in Molviya orbits.

Complete coverage is obtained by a constellation of nine satellites which·

has shorter life spans than their US counterparts.

Satellites for Nuclear Explosion Detection

To monitor and maintain limited Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation

Treaties by watching for above ground nuclear test. These detection

devices of U.S. is carried on other platforms Navstar satellites, principally

dedicated to the Global Positioning System (GPS) also carry the Integrated

Operational Nuclear Detection System (IONDS). The United States has

launched six successive pairs of super synchronous Vela Satellites for

monitoring between 1963 and 1970.

MHitary Orbit Types

LEO Betwee:1 about 200 and 5000 km how EArth orbits are favoured

for general reconnaissance mission since they give planet wide coverage.

Periods are between 90 minutes and a few hours.

Semi Synchronous Orbit

Circular orbit at 20,700 km with a period of 12 hours. The term is

sometimes-extended to all orbits between LEO and this attitudes.

1/(J

Molniya Orbit

Highly illiptical, approximately 500x40000 km, with a 12 hour period.

Most stable at inclination of 63°. Mostly used by Soviets to provide satellite

spending 11 hours but of 12 above the northern hemisphere.

Geostationary Orbit (GEO)

Circular, equatorial, attitude 35,700 km, with a period of 24 hours,

such satellites appears to remains almost stationary above a fixed point

on the equator. GEO serves for early warning and communication purposes.

Geosynchronous Orbit

At an attitude of 35,700 km, circular, inclined orbit has larger figure of

eight ground tracks, according to its inclination. It can be used for both

military and circles purposes.

Super-Synchronous Orbit

Above GEO which are little in use, but in future, it can be used for

taking refuge from any type of ASAT's.

Types of Laser

The term· Laser' has been as if these was just one laser weapon. This

is not so research isbeing conducted into many different types of laser

weapons. Broadly falls under three heads :

Ill

l. Chemical Lasers

Chemical lasers are powerful lasers they are produced by utilizing

the reaction between two gases hydrogen and flourine. In early February

1981, the Weapon was used against an air launched AIM-92 side wing

side air to air missile though beam hit the target but ur:lSl.JCCeSSful to destroy it.

Excimer Laser

These lasers are created by the reaction of two gases i.e. between·

flourine and argon or oxenon stimilated by electrical power to produce

pulses of beams of high energy in a fractions of second. They make an

ideal anti-missile weapons because they can destroy their target by

concentnating on it for just a second or more. Major drawback of eximer

laser as a space weapon is that they need laser generating equipment in

space.

X-rays Lasers

X-ray lasers are brainchild of DR Edward Teller that first fired President

Reagan's imagination and helped formulate whole idea of a space based·

strategic defense.

There are three basic problems that a potential x-ray laser weapon

system, if this is to work, must overcome. First, is the need to produce

enough energy to create the x-rays. Second is the problem of stationing

the weapon in space and third is the problem of targeting the weapon on

to attacking missiles.

112

Prospects

More efficient and higher energy lasers and particle beams than are

available today will no doubt be developed. The issues connected with

high energy beam technology are complex. The history of weapons, system

indicate that man has never been contented, military technologyhas always

striven to develop better weapons. The militarization of space has reached

such a level that loss of some or all of nation's military spacecraft would

reduce considerable the efficiecny of that nation's fighting forces on Earth.

Therefore war in space, would be just an indication of initiation of war on

Earth.

As regards the high beam weapons, a number of problems need to be

soloved before such systems can be used in practicable weapons. On

cases of las_ers, beam propagation is reasonably well understood. The

problem of tracking and aiming at a fast among target have to some extent

been solved but much work remains to be done.

Space technology will undoubtedly spread beyond the industrial

nations. Also, this technology plays an important role in the verifying the

implementation of some arms control agreements and in monitoring crisis.

Perhaps these roles could used as a cutting edge to reduce and.

eventually to ban the military use of space.

While the political climate is being created for such changes in the

use of outer space, there is an urgent need for some measures to slow

113

down and even to stop the militerization of this environment. Now-a-days

American-Russian jointspace venture among towards more peaceful and

explorative activities. But in the absence of total ban on use of satellites

for military purposes the following measures could be suggested.

1 . To increase the war fighting efficiency of Earth based weapons

many more speacecraft will be used. It might be suggested that the number

of military satellites launched per year by a country is limited.

2. Since disarmament is a concern for all - it is essential that

discussions on the concept of an international satellite monitoring agency

are kept alive.

3. To make awareness about the extent of the militerization of outer

space and the disastrous consequences of allowing space technology to.

add impetus to the arms race. In this connection, setting up a UN Centre

for Outer Space would help.

4. The minimum that the two major powers could do to bring at least

some military activities in outer space under control is to agree to an ASAT

treaty particularly when ASAT weapon could also be used to against ballistic

missiles.

114