The critics of the private space programs

 

The critics of the private space programs

The space stations are medal, what has two sides

Many times the security aspects of the private space programs are causing discussions. If somebody can send the bombardment vehicle to the orbiting trajectory, that actor can dominate the entire Earth. The importance of space noticed by the USAF along with the Soviet Union in the 1960s. 

During that era, the Soviet Union send the highly classified military space stations to the outer space, what code-name was "Almaz". There were tested manned and unmanned defense space solutions during that program, and the space stations, what was involved in this program were Salyut 1 (OPS-1), Salyut 3 (OPS-2), and Salyut 5 (OPS-3). There were also tested many other systems like the modified Soyuz capsule. The USA and the other competitors of the Soviet Union were so quiet about that kind of program makes it concerning. 

The contracts that are prohibiting positioning the weapons to space are only paper if nobody even tries to follow them. And even if the "Almaz" was done before that contract, the ASAT and ABM programs continue even today. 

Also, USAF planned to make its military space laboratory called MOL (Manned Orbiter Laboratory) for operating along with Gemini-program. "Almaz"-stations were used to test things like machine guns in the space. And the solutions, where the ammunition was actually rocket seemed promising. 

The problem with the material weapons in the space is recoil. There were created the rocket ammunition, which was shot in the system that looked like rapid firing bazooka. The ignition of the ammunition happened by electric induction, and the idea was stolen from the "Gyrojet" pistols. 

I don't know did that kind of system tested in space. But "Almaz" was controlled by the Soviet Air Force. And there were tested the space cannons. 

Almaz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaz

MOL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manned_Orbiting_Laboratory

Soviet space cannon: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a18187/here-is-the-soviet-unions-secret-space-cannon/

Image: https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/soviet-space-cannon-in-orbit

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Criticism against space programs. 

Secrecy is the thing that causes theories. So the opinion of the people is that everything must be told. And also the possibility of the misuse of the systems must be understood. One of the best examples of this kind of case is the Internet. 

The same system, which offers the ultimate platform for making remote surgery and limitless information also can be used as the ultimate control platform that destroys privacy and keeps dictators in power. The same way space stations can use as the bombardment platforms. 

There is also criticism against large-size space stations and space hotels. The thing is that those platforms can be used in a horrible way wrong. Large-size space stations can also be used as the weaponized platforms to control the Earth. If we are thinking about the possibility to make the armed space station, that kind of system would be quite easy to create. In the conventional versions, those space stations are equipped with rockets, which are used kinetic energy for destroying the target. 

Also, things like steel rails are planned to use against the ground targets. When we are thinking about large-scale railguns like "rods of God" or "Project Thor" that kind of system can deliver precise accurate destruction like terminating certain houses in the city. The idea of this kind of military platforms is to make nuclear weapons old fashion. Also, those platforms can use high-power microwave weapons for controlling the aerospace. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

And why these kinds of systems are causing criticism against space hotels? What if some terrorist hijacks that kind of hotel? The thing is that the experience in the zero-gravity conditions is quite an expensive investment. So if the space hotel is created for tourists. That means that the people who are traveling there are also precise targets for terrorists, who can try to shoot it with some kind of modified SCUD-missile.

This kind of modified SCUD-missile can have two or three stages and the small warhead, which weight is about a couple of grams. The kinetic energy system can break the core of the space stations. 

That means that the space hotel would need to have an electromagnetic shield against this kind of threat. And if somebody will hijack this kind of platform, the result can be devastating. But as we know the space hotel is the thing, that can be used for many purposes. So it can serve also as a laboratory, the platform of the crews, who are repairing satellites. 

But as we know the brightest visions have dark sides. The commercial space stations would give private actors the same operational capacity what the government has. So that thing should also be discussed. The thing is that privatizing space means that space flights will become cheaper.

And the problem is that the space shuttles, what can use many times have also come available for the smaller countries like North-Korea. Those small-size, multi-usage recoverable shuttles can be easily changed to use as the space fighters, which can attack against low-earth-orbiting satellites. But the small shuttles can also be equipped with the warheads, and use as the missiles. This is the thing, that we must realize when we are making space technology.