Very early anti-satellite proposal

[MartG]

Interesting article about a manned anti-satellite system proposed to the USAF in the early 1960s

https://falsesteps.wordpress.com/2016/08/08/mass-t...

Given the technology of the time it would have been a monumental development task, never mind the creation of orbital debris from blowing up satellites

[anonymous-user]

I wonder if any of that ^^^ found it's way into the USAFs Manned Orbiting Laboratory that was proposed and started development in the mid 1960's?


(there is a load of interesting info on MOL and the politics surrounding it in Roland Whites book "In to the Black" on the first Space Shuttle mission, highly recommended BTW!)

[Eric Mc]

The Russians even put a gun on their Almaz space stations.

[Sylvaforever]

"this is how we fix things in the Russian space program"

Actually that quote from Armageddon seems now like a mark of respect not a piss take some thought at the time..

[Eric Mc]

They carried personal arms on their "normal" spacecraft as well - such as the Voshkod.

[Einion Yrth]

Eric Mc said:

They carried personal arms on their "normal" spacecraft as well - such as the Voshkod.

Seems a novel enough way of committing suicide [/Sir Henry]

[MartG]

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

They carried personal arms on their "normal" spacecraft as well - such as the Voshkod.

Seems a novel enough way of committing suicide [/Sir Henry]

Carried due to the possibility of encountering bears and/or other beasties after landing in remote areas of the Soviet Union

[Eric Mc]

Which is exactly what happened when Voshkod 2 landed over 1,000 miles from its intended landing site.

[Einion Yrth]

MartG said:

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

They carried personal arms on their "normal" spacecraft as well - such as the Voshkod.

Seems a novel enough way of committing suicide [/Sir Henry]

Carried due to the possibility of encountering bears and/or other beasties after landing in remote areas of the Soviet Union

The one on Almaz wasn't though, that was genuinely barking.

[Eric Mc]

Maybe they were thinking of Ursa Major?