Donald Trump created the Space Force. The Chinese and Russians are training to destroy satellites from the ground. But we must not forget that in France, we created the Space Command a few years ago. It is a branch of the army which aims precisely to spot satellites that are a little too curious and to get rid of them if necessary. And to get rid of it, the army has just launched, at the end of 2024, an interception/destruction project that we will certainly envy, because it leaves no trace.
You should know that today, we don’t really dare blow up a satellite in orbit. This would eventually create a cloud of uncontrollable debris that could endanger other satellites (its own or those of its allies). The French method consists of catching the unwanted object with robotic arms. Then to deorbit it so that it burns up in the atmosphere or sinks in the middle of the Pacific.
It is a partnership between the army and the French start-up Dark (a bit like NASA has partnerships with SpaceX). Together, they will begin by simulating missions to capture objects in orbit. Before considering a prototype by 2030. Dark’s technology does not use a ground launcher, but a delivery system from an aircraft. This is a huge advantage. This makes it more flexible and less expensive than a rocket launch (often weather dependent). Its interceptor could be sent urgently, within a few hours. Which could prove key in the event of a conflict up there.
There is a treaty, dating from 1967, banning weapons in space. But since then, water has flowed under the bridges. In recent years, incidents have increased. A few months ago, the Americans and Russians accused each other of having launched armed satellites. There is real paranoia at the moment. The slightest maneuver can appear threatening. Everyone gets ready. And France certainly does not want to be late.
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