cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4856544
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[German Defence Minister Boris] Pistorius said two Russian Luch-Olymp reconnaissance satellites are tracking two Intelsat satellites that are used by, among others, the German armed forces.
The minister said that as he was speaking, “39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites are flying over us,” with their observations being transmitted in real-time. “So be careful what you say,” he added.
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“They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites,” he told a space conference in Berlin, adding that the German military has already been targeted by jamming attacks.
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Europe lags behind the United States, China and Russia in space.
For decades, Europe has relied upon the U.S. for its security in space, but the Trump administration’s “America First” policies, plus a commercial market that’s growing exponentially, has prompted Europeans to rethink their approach.
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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius revealed the active operations as he announced a €35 billion ($41 billion) investment in his country’s space programs over the next five years.
Umm every country that has satellites are tracking all other satellites too. One needs to do so to avoid collisions.
So it is a true statement but a misleading one at that.
To avoid collisions?
Did you read even the paraphrased summary?
“They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites”
So can anyone with about $8K worth of hardware and a bit of technical ability.
You think you can kinetically disrupt satellites with $8k worth of hardware?
Everyone who has that technical background could. Literally thousands of engineers who used to work for the US government and left the country due to deportation threats carry that information.
How are you going to kinetically disrupt a satellite with $8000?
I don’t think this contradicts their point. Firstly, saying something is a concern is not the same as saying there are no other concerns. It’s not an exclusionary statement.
Secondly, I would expect that every country with these capabilities is tracking every satellite they can find. Of course this is going to include adverserial nations.
Is this a new development? I don’t want to downplay the danger coming from Russia, but I also don’t like how media seem to churn out headline after headline that evokes “WW3 is one step closer” type emotions.
In addition to clickbait and ragebait, this is fearbait I guess.
The real bit of news (IMO) is this:
For decades, Europe has relied upon the U.S. for its security in space, but the Trump administration’s “America First” policies, plus a commercial market that’s growing exponentially, has prompted Europeans to rethink their approach.
It’s very far from a new development. The US first demonstrated the ability to identify, track, and destroy a hostile satellite back in the 1960’s. My dad was an engineer and worked on that project.
Manufactured consent.
I think nato should start sending drones to spy on Russia. What are they gonna do? Take them down? They can barely handle ukrainian drones
