US Space Force says it needs more practice at responding to orbital emergencies

In the military world, preparation is everything. That's why the US Space Force is planning to up its tactical response launch practice cadence … to once a year. Speaking at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies this week, USSF Space Systems Commander Lieutenant General Philip Garrant said annual tactical response …

[John Brown (no body)]

I suppose they could buy...

... a few Falcon 9s and the requisite training from SpaceX. I don't know how long they can just stand there, unfueled, and still be ready to use, but SpaceX seem to have roll out to pad, fuel up and launch down a very short time nowadays. Of course, that requires all the attendant infrastructure and there may be a lot more going on in the background for weeks or months before a specific launch that I'm not aware of. I don't believe there are any other suppliers out there capable of providing a launch more or less on demand unless notified well in advance to maintain a "hot stand-by" at great expense.

[Claverhouse]

The World's Schoolma'am

Even when hypocritically engaged in 'Do What I Say, Not What I Do', the US can't stop moralising:

"...ability to respond to irresponsible behavior on orbit,"

"Adversaries are continuing to exhibit poor behavior,"

[Spherical Cow]

Re: The World's Schoolma'am

Indeed.

"Both Russia and China have blown up orbiting satellites"

and so has the US: Operation Burnt Frost in 2008.

[jdiebdhidbsusbvwbsidnsoskebid]

Re: The World's Schoolma'am

"and so has the US: Operation Burnt Frost in 2008"

I think the US first did it in the mid '80s with an orbital missile launched from a modified F15. As far as I know that was the first direct hit on an orbiting satellite, but there were tests in the 60s that disabled satellites with non kinetic systems. Google starfish prime for probably the most well known example. The Russians were also doing the anti satellite thing during the cold war.

The idea isn't new, but neither is the Outer Space Treaty (1967) which to be fair doesn't actually ban the use of weapons in space.