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running before the rest of the world knew what had hit them. Even more intriguingly, he said that the US military would use extraterrestrial aliens or rogue asteroids as its lie to justify putting weapons into space." Interestingly, it is not documented whether he said that "missile defence" would be the "lie" behind US be to give the order to shoot down as many US satellites — running before the rest of the world knew what had hit as possible. China has fired ground-based lasers at US them. Even more intriguingly, he said that the US satellites before—blinding them, yet not destroying military would use extraterrestrial aliens or rogue them. It would take a tremendous amount of energy to _ asteroids as its lie to justify putting weapons into send a laser through the atmosphere and then damage a ___space."” Interestingly, it is not documented whether he satellite. The US, though, is close to having this _ said that "missile defence" would be the "lie" behind US capability. space weapons. Officially, the US military's anti-satellite program does Not long after von Braun passed away, President not exist. And while Gagnon's theory of the US Ronald Reagan—the sabre-rattling, terrorist-hunting controlling the heavens some day may be a little strong | Republican who wanted to bury the Soviet Union's for some people, some experts agree: the US is secretly | Communist bear—brought "Star Wars" to the world's testing anti-satellite capabilities under the mask of centre stage in the early 1980s. "Star Wars" was actually missile defence. a moniker given to the Strategic Defense Initiative, or "There's an Air Force Counterspace Operations SDI. But what truly inspired—or forced—Reagan to call doctrine [published in 2004]. They have already for his anti-missile shield? Was it his dream, or was he deployed ground-based satellite jammers. What there simply following a plan that had been set in motion long isn't currently is an active, unclassified program to before he won the White House? interfere with satellites by physically destroying them,” Johann Hari, a British journalist with stealth-like said Laura Grego, a space- talent, claimed that Reagan weapons expert with the Union came to the idea of creating a of Concerned Scientists (UCS). . space shield from a 1940s B- Notice that Grego did not say SOME experts agree: movie in which he'd starred. In Classe or secre "Instead the US is secretly the movie. itled Murder in the Air, of declaring a destructive anti- . . : Reagan plays a secret agent who satellite program, there's a built- testing anti-satellite has to protect a weapon called in capability for anti-satellite capabilities under the the "inertia projector". Hari warfare in missile defense,” she ar wrote that the weapon "fired an said’ mask of missile electrical current at any plane or Consider the fact that if the US defence. missile approaching the United States, rendering it worthless". A battlesats, strictly for missile scientist tells Reagan that this defence, it would have to be weapon "makes the US invincible strung across Earth's lower orbits so as to cover large _— in war, and promises to become the greatest force for areas of the globe and space. The UCS stated: "To keep __ world peace ever discovered”."' at least one satellite over a missile launch site at all Nevertheless, Reagan wanted a shield over America times, many SBIs [space-based interceptors] would have —_ using ground-based lasers, missiles and battlesats. One to be in orbit. In a 2003 study, the American Physical program that his scientists envisioned and worked on Society showed that many hundreds or thousands of spending millions) was Brilliant Pebbles. A satellite would SBIs would be required in orbit to provide global release dozens of watermelon-sized interceptors that coverage against ballistic missiles. The study also would act like a wall of bullets and fly into a group of showed that given the technology expected to be argets so that they take out everything, even a decoy available for the next decade, each SBI would weigh a CBM. President Bill Clinton cut the Brilliant Pebbles ton or more. As a result of these factors, deploying such program and it has never been revived. Clinton were to create a fleet of a system would be hugely expensive.” downgraded missile defence in general, slashing millions in funds. However, a few senior office-holders The V-2 Rocket, SDI and Brilliant Pebbles were determined to keep missile defence alive during the Many believe that the first space weapon was the 1990s, one of those being Senator Daniel Inouye of Nazis’ V-2 rocket, which terrorised the Allies. The V-2 Hawaii, a Democrat and also a World War II hero. Inouye would spend part of its journey in space and then _ claimed that he needed to protect the islands from the descend on its target, just like today's ICBMs. The V-2, orth Koreans—who have a hard time feeding their own by the way, was designed by the infamous Wernher von people, let alone building ICBMs. Les SS Dt En EY 9 DE a and ...some experts agree: the US is secretly testing anti-satellite capabilities under the defence. The V-2 Rocket, SDI and Brilliant Pebbles Many believe that the first space weapon was the Nazis’ V-2 rocket, which terrorised the Allies. The V-2 would spend part of its journey in space and then descend on its target, just like today's ICBMs. The V-2, by the way, was designed by the infamous Wernher von Braun, who would escape from Germany to America and become known as the "Father of the American Space Nea aenen" "Space Hawks" and Missile Defence Contractors Also waiting during the 1990s was an entirely new generation of missile defence proponents. They waited in conservative think-tanks and in military academies, working quietly to keep missile defence in the minds of Program". Interestingly, on his deathbed, von Braun allegedly told a confidante, Dr Carol Rosin, that US space weapons would be "based on a lie" and be up and APRIL - MAY 2011 NEXUS ¢ I5 mask of missile www.nexusmagazine.com