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Asteroid Attack On Russia! US Could Be Developing "Celestial Weapons" To Strike The Country

A recent anti-satellite weapons test by Russia has sparked a new wave of concerns about the potential use of asteroids as weapons of mass destruction. A Russian expert has warned that the United States and its allies may be developing and experimenting with asteroid weapons under the guise of planetary protection systems.

What are asteroid weapons?

Asteroid weapons are hypothetical devices that could use asteroids or comets to cause massive damage to a target on Earth. There are two main ways of employing asteroids as weapons, according to Anatoly Zaitsev, the CEO of the Planetary Protection Center non-profit partnership and an honorary member of the Tsiolkovsky Cosmonautics Academy.

The first method involves withholding information about a hazardous celestial body that is on a collision course with Earth, and letting it hit the desired location. However, this method is considered unlikely due to the limited detection rate of such asteroids worldwide. Each year, only about 0.1% of the approximately 2,500 Earth-approaching asteroids are discovered.

The second method, which is more realistic, involves deliberately modifying the flight path of an asteroid to cause it to collide with a specific territory. This could be done by using kinetic, laser, or even nuclear devices to alter the orbit or velocity of the asteroid.

How feasible are asteroid weapons?

The feasibility of asteroid weapons depends on several factors, such as the availability of suitable asteroids, the technological capabilities of the attacker, the detection and defense systems of the defender, and the ethical and legal implications of such an act.

The availability of suitable asteroids is limited by their size, composition, orbit, and proximity to Earth. Smaller asteroids are more abundant but less destructive, while larger asteroids are more rare but more devastating. The composition and orbit of the asteroid also affect its maneuverability and vulnerability to deflection or destruction. The proximity to Earth determines how much time and energy are required to change its course.

The technological capabilities of the attacker include the ability to detect, track, intercept, and manipulate asteroids. These require advanced sensors, rockets, spacecraft, and weapons that can operate in deep space. The attacker also needs to have a reliable command and control system that can coordinate and execute such a complex operation.

The detection and defense systems of the defender include the ability to monitor, identify, warn, and counteract potential asteroid threats. These require global cooperation, coordination, and communication among various agencies and organizations that are involved in planetary defense. The defender also needs to have effective contingency plans and emergency response measures in case of an impact.

The ethical and legal implications of using asteroid weapons are enormous. Such an act would violate international law and norms that prohibit the weaponization of outer space and the use of indiscriminate or disproportionate force against civilians or non-combatants. Such an act would also pose a grave risk to global security, stability, and sustainability by creating widespread devastation, environmental damage, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical tensions.

What is the evidence of asteroid weapon development?

There is no conclusive evidence that any country is actively developing or testing asteroid weapons. However, there are some indications that some countries may be interested in or capable of such a technology.

For instance, Zaitsev pointed out that over three decades, the United States and other nations had organized twelve expeditions to fourteen asteroids and six comets. These missions were used to test and develop methods and technologies to control the trajectories of these celestial bodies.

One example is NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which was launched in 2021 and accomplished its objective of altering the trajectory of the target asteroid Dimorphos in October 2022. While NASA claimed that this mission was purely for scientific and defensive purposes, some critics argued that it could also serve as a demonstration or precursor for offensive capabilities.

Another example is China's Chang'e-5 mission, which was launched in 2020 and successfully collected samples from the lunar surface. While China stated that this mission was for peaceful exploration and research purposes, some analysts suggested that it could also enhance China's ability to access and exploit lunar resources or launch attacks from the Moon.

A third example is Russia's anti-satellite weapons test in November 2021, which generated more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of pieces of smaller debris that threatened the lives of the seven astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS). While Russia did not comment on this test, some observers speculated that it could be related to its interest in developing space-based weapons or countering US space dominance.

What are the implications of asteroid weapon development?

The development or use of asteroid weapons would have serious implications for the future of humanity and the planet. It would undermine the efforts and initiatives to prevent the weaponization of outer space and to promote the peaceful and cooperative use of space for the benefit of all. It would also increase the risk of accidental or intentional collisions, conflicts, or catastrophes in space or on Earth.

Therefore, it is imperative that the international community works together to prevent the emergence or proliferation of asteroid weapons and to enhance the transparency, accountability, and responsibility of all space actors. It is also vital that the global public is aware of and engaged in the issues and challenges related to planetary protection and space security.

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(1) Asteroid Attack On Russia! US Could Be Developing ‘Celestial Weapons .... https://world-defence.com/asteroid-attack-on-russia-us-could-be-developing-celestial-weapons-to-strike-the-country-russian-expert/.

(2) Asteroid Attack On Russia! US Could Be Developing 'Celestial Weapons .... https://eurasiantimes.com/asteroid-attack-on-russia-us-could-be-developing-celestial/.

(3) US accuses Russia of ‘dangerous’ behavior after anti-satellite weapons .... https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/15/us-investigating-debris-event-space-reports-russia-anti-satellite-weapon-test.