Force projections space weapons -- such as kinetic-energy weapons, space-based lasers, or aerospace strike vehicles -- are not feasible in the near-term given today's technology.
Keywords: Long Range Strike Weapons.
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Concepts for hypervelocity rod bundles *nicknamed ‘‘Rods from God’’ * have existed since at least the 1980s under different names, such as ‘‘Long Rod Penetrators.’’ Generally, the concept involves a constellation of satellites, each housing several tungsten rods. Up to 20 feet long and about a foot in diameter, these rods would launch from space at extremely high speeds, striking underground targets with the force of a small nuclear weapon. However, studies of this concept have shown that although Rods from God are theoretically possible, there are both physics and engineering challenges that may simply be impossible to overcome. Despite the inclusion of hypervelocity rod bundles in the 2003 Transformation Flight Plan, we do not see any evidence in Air Force budget documents to suggest research on such a program is being funded. Lewis, Jeffrey, Michael Katz-Hyman et al. "U.S. Space Weapons: Big Intentions, Little Focus." Non Proliferation Review. Vol. 13, No. 1 (March 2006): 35-56. [ 5 quotes ] [ page 48 ]
Space-based assets could clearly play a role in both responses. Space-based sensors could give the necessary alert and tracking data to the interception network that land-based sensors would not be able to obtain. More important, space-based interceptors could be the most appropriate means to target long-range missiles fired from deep within a country's territory or to rapidly destroy the launch capabilities of a rogue state set on defeating limited land-based interception system inventories. The latter clearly lies at the core of the debate on the nonweaponization of space as it means the deployment of a space-to- Earth strike capability. However, it is doubtful that weapon platforms will be deployed in space in the near future. Orbiting weapons capable of striking land-based systems are neither economically nor technically interesting for the moment, and other means to conduct anti-launcher operations already exist, such as piloted or unmanned airborne systems. Indeed, the proponents of missile defence are not asking for space-to-Earth strike systems. Rather, they are advocating the development of space-based interception capabilities, which would have only a very marginal-and probably no-offensive potential against Earth targets. Gruselle, Bruno. "The final frontier: missile defence in space?." Disarmament Forum. No. 1 (2007): 53-57. [ 4 quotes ] [ page 56 ]
"Rods from God" is the evolution of a 1980s program. Basically, it consists of orbiting platforms stocked with metal tungsten rods about 6.1 meters long (20 feet) and 30 centimeters (one foot) in diameter that could be satellite-guided to targets anywhere on the earth within minutes, for the rods would move at more than 11,000 kilometers an hour (6,835 miles per hour). This weapon exploits kinetic energy to cause an explosion the same magnitude of that of an earth-penetrating nuclear weapon, but with no radioactive fallout. The system would function due to two satellites, one of which would work as a communications platform, while the other would contain an arsenal of tungsten rods. Each of the satellites would be seven meters long and its diameter would be approximately 30 centimeters. "Star Wars: Empires strike back." Asia Times. August 18, 2005.
In summary, there have been no space-based strike systems tested or deployed to date, although Cold War-era programs did support considerable development and testing of key technologies. Prohibitive costs and reduced perceived needs led Russia and, to a lesser degree, the US to drastically cut funding for space-based strike programs, particularly the energy-to- target types. More recently, the US has pursued the development of SBI in the context of its ballistic missile defense program, although challenges to its completion remain. ( More ... ) Graham, Thomas and William Marshall. Space Security 2007. Waterlo, Ontario: Project Ploughshares, August 2007. [ 20 quotes ] [ page 141 ]