NATO's Emergency Plan for an Orbital Backup Internet

https://spectrum.ieee.org/undersea-internet-cables-nato

by bookofjoe • 2 years ago

23 12 2 years ago

spectrum.ieee.org

verdverm4• 2 years ago

I'd like to hear the plan in the event of an orbital nuke designed to take out LEO constellations. Space internet doesn't seem like a great backup plan imho

southernplaces72• 2 years ago

Well, propose an alternative then. Our existing ground internet can be taken out by something as cheap and simple as a heavy piece of metal dropped in one or more strategic, unguarded locations from a modestly-sized ship, and nearly anyone can do it. With an orbital internet, only a small number of agents, nations basically, could launch the orbital weapons to cause destruction.

A mix of both is ideal, more robust. Also, nukes in orbit is movie stuff. In reality the vacuum makes them absurdly weak for the cost and political fallout of launching them. Other weapons would be used to take out satellites. Hell, a precisely aimed lug nut would do the trick.

verdverm4• 2 years ago

nukes in orbit is movie stuff

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fishbowl

Also, the US intel believes Russia is moving forward with plans to put nukes in space, but that's not the point. They don't need to exist in space to have a detonation in LEO, which would wipe out constellations and leave lingering interference for months, as we've seen before.

In reality the vacuum makes them absurdly weak

This seems to be incorrect based on prior results. One nuke is far more efficient than a per satellite regime. Frying electronics is easier than kinetic strikes

With an orbital internet, only a small number of agents, nations basically, could launch the orbital weapons to cause destruction.

https://www.dogonews.com/2024/12/9/student-built-rocket-brea...

Students can reach above the karman line, which means groups like the Houthis could as well. Space is increasingly becoming privatized and with it the risk of malicious payloads slipping into ride shares as rocket .companies compete for business.

V__2• 2 years ago

This is a non issue. Space is big, and you would need a lot of nukes or missiles to disrupt even a LEO constellation. Which means, by the time it becomes an issue the parties involved will have MADed themselves and the world into oblivion.

verdverm4• 2 years ago

you would need a lot of nukes or missiles to disrupt even a LEO constellation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fishbowl

History seems to indicate otherwise. It's the EM effect, not kinetic, that does the damage, with effects spreading and lingering for months

WeylandYutani• 2 years ago

Reminds me that America had a bunker with a few billion in cash for after WW3 in case all the bank servers got nuked...

NoZZz• 2 years ago

Nato's plan to spend money on outdated tech.

metalman• 2 years ago

LEO could go first, as any old korea with a dozen mega rockets, lifting beach gravel into orbit can give earth the ring system, around which remenant humanity can create myths

486sx33• 2 years ago

No backup needed! Let the internet crash, we might learn something about humanity. Don’t worry it’ll be back up before long.

NATO's Emergency Plan for an Orbital Backup Internet

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