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China planning satellite constellation to "suppress" or destroy Elon Musk's Starlink
Hotair ^ | 02/26/2023 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 02/26/2023 4:25:10 PM PST by SeekAndFind

China planning satellite constellation to
(209 kilometers)

Someone should probably forward this to Elon Musk because it sounds like China is gunning for him, possibly in a quite literal fashion. The South China Morning Post is reporting that China has begun a space program that aims to put nearly 13,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit in the next four years. Most of these (but not all) will be communications satellites intended to create a global network to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink program. The Chinese claim that they’re trying to make sure they get their fair share of orbital slots, which seems harmless enough. But they’ll be doing more than just that. The announcement speaks of a plan to “suppress” Starlink (whatever that means) and possibly some even more direct attacks on SpaceX equipment.

Researchers say China plans to build a huge satellite network in near-Earth orbit to provide internet services to users around the world – and to stifle Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The project has the code name “GW”, according to a team led by associate professor Xu Can with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Space Engineering University in Beijing. But what these letters stand for is unclear.

The GW constellation will include 12,992 satellites owned by the newly established China Satellite Network Group Co, Xu and his colleagues said in a paper about anti-Starlink measures published in the Chinese journal Command Control and Simulation on February 15.

Even if this was just a matter of space real estate, the explanation from the Chinese makes little sense. They claim to be ensuring that they have “a place in low orbit” and want to “prevent the Starlink constellation from excessively pre-empting low-orbit resources.” But as Douglas Adams once pointed out in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “space is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is.”

Yes, we’ve dumped a ton of refuse into the orbital junkyard that now surrounds our planet and there are thousands of satellites up there. But it’s still mostly empty space and those birds are not close to being bumper-to-bumper yet. There would be room for two constellations of satellites with plenty to spare.

The announcement also says that China plans to “gain opportunities and advantages at other orbital altitudes, and even suppress Starlink”. Given the translation issues, perhaps that just means they plan to compete with Starlink for customers. But it might also suggest some sort of electronic interference with the Starlink satellites.

The final threat in the announcement appears to remove all doubt. It claims that “new weapons, including lasers and high-power microwaves, would be developed and used to destroy Starlink satellites that pass over China or other sensitive regions.

We’ve discussed this here in the past and the situation appears to be growing steadily worse. The United States has fallen behind China in the development of offensive satellite technology and it’s going to take time to catch up. (Assuming we ever do.) The Chinese have begun launching birds that are far more maneuverable for a longer period of time than ours and it is believed that some of them already have offensive weapons capabilities. Or they could simply choose to crash into one of ours. It doesn’t take much to knock out a satellite. And while China hasn’t threatened to take out our military satellites yet, it sounds as if they may use Elon Musk’s gear for some target practice. This is not a good situation and we need to get on top of this.



TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ccp; china; elonmusk; musk; russia; space; starlink
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To: buwaya

Elon’s launch costs are far lower. I don’t know how long it would take the Chinese to develop reliable reusable tech like SpaceX’s, but it won’t be a snap of the fingers.


21 posted on 02/26/2023 9:53:18 PM PST by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
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To: Paul R.

They, um, don’t pay their people quite as much.

Launch costs for them are quite reasonable even with expendable vehicles like the Long March variants.


22 posted on 02/26/2023 10:08:08 PM PST by Regulator (It's fraud, Jiim)
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To: SeekAndFind

https://www.spaceforce.mil/


23 posted on 02/26/2023 10:27:01 PM PST by Eleutheria5 (Every Goliath has his David.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Oh good. More space junk.


24 posted on 02/26/2023 10:58:03 PM PST by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
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To: McGruff

How long until Hank Johnson wonders aloud if all those satellites might block the sun?

Then again, maybe this would solve the desire of people to put curtains up around the earth so we could all freeze in the name of global warming.

Obviously I am being sarcastic........ maybe. This is the kind of crap that is seriously discussed by our “elites”.


25 posted on 02/26/2023 11:52:52 PM PST by volunbeer (We are living 2nd Thessalonians)
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To: blueunicorn6
LOL...ain't that the truth!

Musk lives for challenges like this.

26 posted on 02/27/2023 1:43:35 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: SeekAndFind

Bookmark


27 posted on 02/27/2023 3:32:02 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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28 posted on 02/27/2023 3:33:58 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: SeekAndFind

Sounds like an act of war. Space piracy. If only we had a president with the forethought to create, I don’t know, a Space Force.


29 posted on 02/27/2023 3:56:33 AM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: SeekAndFind

They don’t know how to be original at all.


30 posted on 02/27/2023 6:24:45 AM PST by HollyB
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To: Paul R.

“Elon’s launch costs are far lower. I don’t know how long it would take the Chinese to develop reliable reusable tech like SpaceX’s, but it won’t be a snap of the fingers.”

They likely have already stolen Elon’s technology.


31 posted on 02/27/2023 7:33:31 AM PST by BlueStateRightist (Government is best which governs least.)
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To: marktwain
"China cannot stand to allow free speech. Elon Musk has shown he is committed to free speech."

maybe that would explain why I got an email saying I got "banned for life" from Twitter for allegedly posting something horrific and the email said the post will stay up forever yet I cannot see it and am banned for life, no system to appeal , just sent off several messages to the bots that I have never posted on Twitter and never got any replies

F-that ELON scumbag and his idiotic space garbage and his idiotic Twitworld can ride out on the same full of horseshit electric powered horse it came in on

32 posted on 02/27/2023 9:51:49 AM PST by KTM rider (what if a real J6 happens someday, instead of just a silly false flag show )
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To: familyop

Mearsheimer was on CCP TV a few days ago. The enemies of America are making no secret of their confederation against us.


33 posted on 02/27/2023 10:01:34 AM PST by lodi90
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To: KTM rider
What does your experience have to do with free speech?

You never even used Twitter!!

34 posted on 02/27/2023 10:13:45 AM PST by marktwain
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The key here is simple: you threaten a US company, you don’t launch so much as an eggroll in a slingshot until you kiss the ring.

And then simply every Chinese launch fails on the pad or maybe over a PLA base.


35 posted on 02/27/2023 10:32:32 AM PST by StAnDeliver (Tanned, rested, and ready.)
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To: lodi90
"Mearsheimer was on CCP TV a few days ago. The enemies of America are making no secret of their confederation against us."

I suspect that Mearsheimer's hostility against the U.S.A. has something to do with the history of World War 2, and it's no surprise that he's been so crypto- about it. Many others like have used similarly slimy speech.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mearsheimer#The_Israel_Lobby_and_U.S._Foreign_Policy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mearsheimer#Allegations_of_antisemitism

Maybe we'll find out for sure, when he becomes senile enough to speak his mind more impulsively.

36 posted on 02/27/2023 12:39:16 PM PST by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
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To: lodi90

Many others like him, even. [I missed typing a word in that last comment.]


37 posted on 02/27/2023 12:42:39 PM PST by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Was that a book or TV series? It seems very familiar.


38 posted on 02/27/2023 12:44:04 PM PST by Vermont Lt
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To: SeekAndFind

Russia may help China in taking Starlink down as Zalenski continues to use it for military purposes.


39 posted on 02/27/2023 1:10:54 PM PST by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinions)
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To: Vermont Lt

Japanese anime series. Good one.


40 posted on 02/27/2023 4:28:29 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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