Guerra espacial

Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, during a video link with cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Photo: Getty Images.

Europa, ,

Days before the publication of last week’s report into Russian activity in the UK, and the subsequent call from several UK parliamentarians for a swift response to the ‘Russian threat’, Russia tested a new anti-satellite weapon capability releasing a small projectile from its Kosmos-2543 sub-satellite.

Kosmos-2543, a small satellite contained inside a larger satellite, Kosmos-2542, and 'birthed’ into orbit in late 2019, recently came under scrutiny in January 2020 when it was reportedly caught ‘buzzing’ US spy satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

By releasing a small projectile from the Kosmos-2543 sub-satellite, the US claims that Russia has launched a new projectile into orbit with relatively high speed – estimated at around 500 km per hour – leading to concerns about the potential of Russia to develop this technology as a weapon to target foreign satellites.…  Seguir leyendo »

Nighttime view of the strait of Gibraltar. Photo by NASA

ReflexionesPensamiento, Cultura y Ciencia

Space is a vital part of national and international infrastructures. Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, humanity has been using space for the purposes of communications, monitoring our environment, tracking the planets in the solar system and the stars in the galaxies, proving data for global positioning, navigation and timing, and conducting vital scientific experiments. We are increasingly dependent on the global space-based satellite constellations for the workings of the national and international infrastructure such as the piloting of aircrafts, navigation at sea, military manoeuvres, financial transactions and internet and phone communications.

Two recent developments in China – the launch of a ‘quantum satellite’ designed to transmit hack-proof keys from space and its loss of control of the space station Tiangong-1 – highlight the security challenges, and dangers, space presents.…  Seguir leyendo »

InternacionalOrden Mundial

Por Mateo Madridejos, periodista e historiador (EL PERIÓDICO, 22/10/06):

La decisión del presidente George Bush de adoptar una nueva estrategia que propugna "la libertad de acción" de Estados Unidos en el espacio, a fin de impedir su utilización por elementos hostiles a los intereses norteamericanos, ha sembrado la alarma no sólo entre los pacifistas y ecologistas, que advierten del riesgo de una catástrofe sin precedentes, sino entre todos los que se inquietan ante la perspectiva de una carrera armamentista en un escenario de apocalipsis. El riesgo viene de lejos, pero se ha disparado por la frenética actividad del actual secretario de Defensa, Donald Rumsfeld, obnubilado por los vapores de la guerra tecnológica.…  Seguir leyendo »