U.S. Air Force Excited About Near-Space Prospects

[seemslikeadream]

Tue Jan 18, 2005 07:25 PM ET

By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force could start operating aircraft in "near space," the no man's land above 65,000 feet but below an outer space orbit, within a year, a top U.S. Air Force space official said on Tuesday.

The Air Force is actively exploring ways to use helium-filled free-floating balloons and remotely controlled glider-like aircraft to protect U.S. convoys, track friendly forces, assess battle damage and boost communications between groups of troops in military hot spots like Iraq.

Near-space craft could give the military new ways to achieve those missions and save money over current aerial vehicles and satellites.

Lt. Gen. Daniel Leaf, vice commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, cited a planned demonstration this month of a balloon-type aircraft that would ascend to 60,000 to 70,000 feet above Phoenix, Arizona, where it would test relaying communications between ground troops, a hypothetical air support center and fighter jets patrolling the air.

That balloon, Combat SkySat Phase I, was built by Space Data Corp., and carries a signal repeater for the U.S. Army's PRC 148 hand-held radio, according to published reports.

more
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7361672

[Octafish]

1. Lots of savings in near-space balloons.

Lots of contracts, too, I bet.
Har har. Zap zap.

Space Assurance or Space Dominance?

The Case Against Weaponizing Space

Michael Krepon with Christopher Clary

While space has long been utilized to assist military operations, it has not been weaponized.  A new report by the Henry L. Stimson Center--Space Assurance or Space Dominance? The Case Against Weaponizing Space--argues that the surest way for the United States to lose the military advantages now enjoyed in space is to turn the heavens into a shooting gallery. 

The Stimson report concludes that U.S. military and economic security is best served by avoiding the flight-testing and deployment of space weaponry.  The pursuit of space dominance could impair global commerce, produce long-lasting, environmental debris in space, and harm alliance ties as well as relations between the United States and Russia and China, the two countries whose help is most needed to stop and reverse proliferation.  The quest to dominate space could prompt low-cost, low-tech countermeasures in the form of space mines and other anti-satellite devices.  Potential adversaries in space would be faced with the dilemma of shooting first or risk being shot.  The quest to secure dominion over space would therefore elevate into the heavens the hair-trigger postures that plagued U.S. and Soviet officials during the Cold War.

The report can be downloaded below.

CONTINUED...

http://www.stimson.org/pubs.cfm?ID=81

[Octafish]

2. Look after Mr. Bond.

See that some harm comes to him.

A saucer full of secrets here:

http://www.betterworldlinks.org/book11e.htm

A handy PDF for those interested in taking the highest ground:

Air Force Space Command:

"Strategic Master Plan FY04 and Beyond"

http://www.thememoryhole.org/mil/space-command-plan-fy2004.htm

Wonder if you'll be able to get drafted into the Space Navy?

Probably will be an all-volunteer force, by then.

You know, special troops selected of just those people capable of incinerating a city or continent from on high.

Just like in the Bible, you know.