Re: What to do about milspace/govspace

On 30 Sep, 22:11, Allen Thomson <thoms...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Somewhat interesting presentations:

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007space/payton.pdf

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007space/rouge.pdf

One can remember the day when to say such things was not prudent.

I looked at the second reference. I have one problem with the microsat
concept. Because of the Rayliegh criterion (1.22 lambda/d) satellites
to observe the Earth's surface in high resolution can only be made
micro if they have a system of phase locking. With radar and radio
obervation this is relatively easy to do.

To get high resolution optical pictures you need (with present
technology) an integral large mirror 2m or so across being a typical
size. Point Hubble at the Earth and you have a spy satellite.

To me the only real answer is a fragmented telescope, possibly larger
than 2m and further away than LEO. I think the Pentagon should press
for the acceleration of the LISA program which will give experience of
optical phase locking. A fragmented telesciope can only be destroyed
with either a nuclear weapon or a massive conventional explosion. A
collision, like the Chinese ASAT would knock only one fragment out.

It would seem that there could be a link up between military
observation requirements and the fundamental question of the Universe.

- Ian Parker

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