The technical expertise and planning required to get 4 satellites to cross within 500m of a target is formidable.
I mean, once you’re in a stable orbit, as long as your thrusters are working properly, it’s really not all that challenging.
I’m really not sure if it is much of a show of technical capability to make a few plane changes. If anything, the precision involved in their GLONASS system (the Russian equivalent of GPS) is much more impressive.
At least, I’m very not intimidated by that capability.
Huge amounts of delta-v required for plane changes, the intimate knowledge of your target’s orbit, the deep knowledge and infrastructure required to get into a stable low earth orbit etc.
Each satellite is purpose-built for its mission. This is the way it has to be in space. These are satellites which are purpose-built to intercept other satellites, which is a show of force.
Yes, there’s a large delta-v requirement (which they burned to do this translation), I’d bet their tanks are real low now. Yeah, they have radar, we know. Yeah, they can get to orbit, we know.
I guess it could be a show of force to suggest that these are interception sats. But we also know they don’t have all that many of them…
I just still don’t think it’s much of a flex, it’s certainly a lot of resources to spend on a weak flex.
I mean, once you’re in a stable orbit, as long as your thrusters are working properly, it’s really not all that challenging.
I’m really not sure if it is much of a show of technical capability to make a few plane changes. If anything, the precision involved in their GLONASS system (the Russian equivalent of GPS) is much more impressive.
At least, I’m very not intimidated by that capability.
Huge amounts of delta-v required for plane changes, the intimate knowledge of your target’s orbit, the deep knowledge and infrastructure required to get into a stable low earth orbit etc.
Each satellite is purpose-built for its mission. This is the way it has to be in space. These are satellites which are purpose-built to intercept other satellites, which is a show of force.
Yes, there’s a large delta-v requirement (which they burned to do this translation), I’d bet their tanks are real low now. Yeah, they have radar, we know. Yeah, they can get to orbit, we know.
I guess it could be a show of force to suggest that these are interception sats. But we also know they don’t have all that many of them…
I just still don’t think it’s much of a flex, it’s certainly a lot of resources to spend on a weak flex.