US attempt at Space Monopoly?

was just reading some articles, (really...i was...) anyways
it was about how us deployed "satellite jammers" supposedly they're supposed to reflect satelite waves of other countries, to stop spy or smthng like that...was really interesting, although i didn't understand most of it , well some of it XD

anyways then i came to this little article
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-04zzv.html
about galileo, the european satalite network system, and it's under threat by U.s?

IS U.S trying to take full control over space? i mean it's already, got basic supremecy (i think) in earth..but is it even possible to do it w/ space ?

On a side note: if any've u watched "gundam seed" this whole deal with the satelite jammers and space control things is like paralell with what's going on in the anime eh?

[Azred]

The article itself stated that space is so vast that no single country could possibly monopolize it. I can understand the reluctance of other countries to "submit to serfdom" in space, which is why they should be attempting to put their own satellite networks into orbit. However, if you think that the US is the only nation that would destroy satellites that constitue a reasonable and immediate threat then I have some ocean-front property in Utah to sell you. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

Are we out to monopolize space? No, but I don't see anyone else with as many projects in the air (pun intended) as we have.

Originally posted by Azred: The article itself stated that space is so vast that no single country could possibly monopolize it. I can understand the reluctance of other countries to "submit to serfdom" in space, which is why they should be attempting to put their own satellite networks into orbit. However, if you think that the US is the only nation that would destroy satellites that constitue a reasonable and immediate threat then I have some ocean-front property in Utah to sell you. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img] Are we out to monopolize space? No, but I don't see anyone else with as many projects in the air (pun intended) as we have.

well, other countries have begun this as well, as i was reading a discussion in slashdot, about this same thing, but i mean U.S is trying to. However they have threats for other countries who are also attempting this, isn't this a way to provoke space warfare?

[shamrock_uk]

The answer Spirits is 'yes'. When you threaten to destroy another countries property (and especially your Allies?!) that is a very sure way to provoke space warfare. But your pentagon is getting rather good at warmongering these days

Snide comments aside, the European system makes perfect sense:

1) Firstly, if you're not lucky enough to work for the US military, GPS really isn't that great for a couple of reasons.

a) The Pentagon restricts accuracy so its only possible to tell your location to the nearest 50 feet I think. This is obviously fine for steering a ship, but there are plenty of new technologies in the pipeline which will want much higher accuracy. I believe Galileo will manage to the nearest metre.

b) GPS is really poor in built-up urban areas. Galileo is specifically designed so that resolution in urban areas is much much better. Future uses may include vehicle navigation or tracking for example so this is quite a plus.

2) GPS is really getting rather old. Technology is marching on so why not have something better?

3) The Pentagon controls it. Now this may not sound like a biggy if you're an American, but it leaves the rest of the world a bit uncomfortable. Feelings aside, it's also economically unwise, as the Pentagon can switch the signal off at any moment and as GPS becomes more and more important, the disruption caused to the rest of the world will be much greater.

4) It's also militarily unwise as plenty of other countries in the world no doubt use GPS for some of their guided missiles etc. Makes perfect sense in terms of national security for countries to not rely on the US. This would presumably tie in nicely with the general feeling in America that Europe should be more militarily self-sufficient.

5) Why not?! It's a free world. There is no reason that the US should have a monopoly in space. China have decided to send random rockets into space and that is entirely up to them but a bit pointless in my opinion. The Europeans are sending up a system which will be of benefit to the whole of the world for many years to come. I can't think of a better way to usher in a greater European role in space.

[ 11-03-2004, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Azred]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: 5) Why not?! It's a free world. There is no reason that the US should have a monopoly in space. China have decided to send random rockets into space and that is entirely up to them but a bit pointless in my opinion. The Europeans are sending up a system which will be of benefit to the whole of the world for many years to come. I can't think of a better way to usher in a greater European role in space.

I agree completely. A 1-m resoultion would have so many benefits that I don't have space in which to list them all at this time. One area of research upon which I will touch is archaeology--this kind of resolution, if combined with a far-infrared wavelength, could find ancient sites without disturbing the ground, narrowing and speeding up digs.

Anyway, I wouldn't want a monopoly in space even if someone wanted to hand it to us. I know our country, and too many people would say "why are we bothering putting up more weather satellites?" They wouldn't understand.

I would like to point out that the Euoropean Union had announced it's intent to field it's own competing satellite Navigation system that would not only compete with the US fielded GPS system but would also make the US system usless due to interfering signals. The US has been having negotiations with the EU to try and avoid this interference. The US has proposed modifications to the European system and also in payment for the Eu adopting those modifications to help pay for a large part of the EU system....the negotiations were ongoing at last report but France was blocking the efforts at the time. This was several months ago that I heard about this.


So shamrock while what you say is true, the US shouldn't be the only one with space systems....if our "friends and allies" interfere with our systems andwill not negotiate..then there is every reason to decide that we will interfere back with theirs. The US provided the world free of charge the GPS system...andnow our friends are threatening to break that system all in the name of ...what?

Originally posted by MagiK: So shamrock while what you say is true, the US shouldn't be the only one with space systems....if our "friends and allies" interfere with our systems andwill not negotiate..then there is every reason to decide that we will interfere back with theirs. The US provided the world free of charge the GPS system...andnow our friends are threatening to break that system all in the name of ...what?

umm, i agree with what u said about the gps, but the europeans arn't the ones threatening to break the system, the one they made "galelio" is supposed to be much more enhanced than that of the us, however, US made the threat on them.. is what i heard and read

[Seraph]

a) The Pentagon restricts accuracy so its only possible to tell your location to the nearest 50 feet I think.

I thought that this feature was currently disabled, but could be reinabled if the military felt the need.

[ 11-04-2004, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Seraph ]

[johnny]

Well, i don't care what the Pentagon says, Uranus is off limits, it's mine. So in a way it's Myanus. If the US wants to go to war over Myanus, i'll be damn well ready, make no mistake.

[Djinn Raffo]

Originally posted by MagiK: I would like to point out that the Euoropean Union had announced it's intent to field it's own competing satellite Navigation system that would not only compete with the US fielded GPS system but would also make the US system usless due to interfering signals. The US has been having negotiations with the EU to try and avoid this interference. The US has proposed modifications to the European system and also in payment for the Eu adopting those modifications to help pay for a large part of the EU system....the negotiations were ongoing at last report but France was blocking the efforts at the time. This was several months ago that I heard about this. So shamrock while what you say is true, the US shouldn't be the only one with space systems....if our "friends and allies" interfere with our systems andwill not negotiate..then there is every reason to decide that we will interfere back with theirs. The US provided the world free of charge the GPS system...andnow our friends are threatening to break that system all in the name of ...what?

Got a link to back this up? Interested in it.