August 03, 2020

Satellite Wars


Satellite Wars
Catch! NASA, Wikimedia Commons

The Russian space agency was accused earlier this month of testing an anti-satellite weapon in space, further fueling our hopes for an imminent sci-fi future, hopefully one more Star Trek than Dune.

NASA observed a small Russian satellite project a smaller object, which the US State Department described as "in-orbit anti-satellite weaponry." Russian officials countered by claiming that the satellite is part of a remote repair system. If the object is indeed a weapon, it would be a violation of an international peace treaty reserving space for peaceful and scientific purposes.

This development comes on the heels of several other various space-related moments this year, including spats over the moon and the first person to vote from orbit.

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