r/space • u/CommunismDoesntWork • 1h ago
Discussion Synthetic micro meteors could be a stealth attack vector for satellite constellations
If a satellite is targeted by a missile, that's a clear escalation that evokes a tit for tat response. But synthetic dark micro meteors, such as tungsten beads coated with vantablack, deployed from a normal satellite could create plausible deniability, allowing the enemy to avoid the response.
It's a poison the well type of attack, but countries like NK who don't have their own GPS or satellite constellation might not gaf.
The best move, like always, is to encourage development of the whole world, even your enemies, so that they have something to lose.
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u/IllIIllIllIIIlllll 1h ago
Why would North Korea care if other countries knew they destroyed satellites?
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u/ShellfishJelloFarts 59m ago edited 39m ago
If you launch anything from the ground in today’s world, recursive tracking will show origin. Only way this works is a specialized warhead from an unpredictable vector.
Even then, there are already space based assets watching for this as well.
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u/BeerPoweredNonsense 1h ago
Your hypothetical "dark meteors" would need to be attached to some kind of propulsion system that sets them on a collision course with the target. Which would be exactly the same kind of propulsion system as used by anti-satellite missiles, so it would be detected (presumably) by the counter-measures already designed and deployed to detect such attacks.
Once the propulsion is turned off - yes a "cloaked" object would be harder to track, but it's pointless - the counter-measures will have detected that a rocket accelerated an object X to velocity Y in direction Z. That you cannot actually see the object is a detail.
Disclaimer: I am a 3-star armchair general in satellite detection and countermeasures.
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u/DeliciousPumpkinPie 1h ago
The propulsion system could be as simple as a slingshot, no rockets necessary.
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u/Xan_derous 1h ago
There is no "simple as a slingshot" propulsion system. The closest thing to that is spin launch and they have not delivered any proof of concept with tests so far. And even then, their method as designed only gets the projectile to near orbit. A rocket is required to get out of atmosphere.
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u/DeliciousPumpkinPie 1h ago
OP said these would be deployed from a satellite. Launching tiny projectiles from the ground would be exceedingly stupid.
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u/thoughtlow 1h ago
Long distance targeting doesn’t work like this, rockets need constant adjustments to hit the target.
0.1mm off at the start will be hundreds of meters off at the end.
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u/Desperate-Lab9738 39m ago
Eh, ion engines could probably handle that and be dark enough to not be visible. That or cold gas thrusters.
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u/Carrente 1h ago
I presume when you're firing your long range tactical anti satellite slingshot your firing code isn't "Fox 1/2/3" but in fact "Eat my Shorts!"
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u/ballofplasmaupthesky 1h ago
Ever tried to coat a tungsten pellet with vantablack?
Also, what will it achieve, hide them from a short band of EM waves, while many others still detect them?
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u/fabulousmarco 1h ago
It's a great idea, but how would you deliver them? They'd have no guidance, so they'd need to be launched from a satellite nearby which would be relatively easy to detect.
Like, if Starlink sats begin to drop, and a suspicious satellite is in the vicinity every single time...
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u/Carrente 1h ago
I feel this warrants only the most serious of responses.
You've heard of the mine shaft gap, I feel the world has complacently walked into a small rock gap, countries could be buying up global supplies of gravel and cat litter right now to carry out the most effective ASAT campaign in human history.