Researchers in China say country must develop ways to destroy Starlink satellites

[midian182]

WTF?! Chinese military researchers are concerned about the potential threat posed by Space X's Starlink satellites and have urged the country to develop ways of destroying or disabling them. The news comes soon after CEO Elon Musk was threatened by the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos over the Starlink terminals that have been sent to help Ukraine.

PCMag reports that China's Modern Defence Technology journal published a paper last month warning of the potential dangers posed by Starlink satellites. The study was led by Ren Yuanzhen, a researcher with the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications under the PLA's Strategic Support Force, and was co-authored by several senior scientists in China's defense industry, writes the SCMP.

"While [Starlink] is booming and also because of its huge comprehensive application potential, it has brought hidden dangers and challenges to our country," the paper reads. "A combination of soft and hard kill methods should be adopted to make some Starlink satellites lose their functions and destroy the constellation's operating system."

Some of the potential military applications of Starlink suggested by the researchers include allowing drones and stealth fighter jets to increase their data transmission speeds by more than 100 times. The satellites could also offer online connectivity to troops in the field, take out high-value targets in space using their ion thrusters, and carry military payloads, according to the paper.

SpaceX has signed a contract with the US Defense Department to develop instruments that can detect and track hypersonic weapons, something else that is worrying China.

Ren says that China needs to adapt its military strategies to counteract Starlink satellites. It is already working on microwaves that can jam satellite communications or burn components, and lasers for damaging or blinding them. Ren did rule out the use of missiles given the debris this method would produce and the number of Starlink satellites: over 2,000 right now, with plans to expand to over 30,000.

China has launched its own Starlink equivalent, called Xing Wang, or StarNet, for offering internet access in remote locations.

Back in December, China complained to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs over claims that a Starlink satellite almost hit its space station.

After SpaceX boss Elon Musk was threatened by Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, over the Starlink terminals sent to help Ukraine, the world's richest man tweeted: "If I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin ya."

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/94741-researchers-china-country-must-develop-ways-destroy-starlink.html

 

[cosminmcm]

If they were used in the conflict to help Ukraine, yes, they should be destroyed. They should be used to watch prn where there is no other way to get internet, not for political reasons.

 

[Lounds]

Only a Authoritarian government would be this paranoid. Star Link opens the door to internet in areas of the world where it's not accessible.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

Only a Authoritarian government would be this paranoid. Star Link opens the door to internet in areas of the world where it's not accessible.

Which is precisely what they don't want.

 

[nodfor]

Only a Authoritarian government would be this paranoid. Star Link opens the door to internet in areas of the world where it's not accessible.

You do understand that communications are essential to effective military operations?

This system could potentially be a force multiplier for militaries with access to it.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

If they were used in the conflict to help Ukraine, yes, they should be destroyed. They should be used to watch prn where there is no other way to get internet, not for political reasons.

Your comment deserves an award.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Starlink creates internet access in areas that may be restricted (ie. North Korea) and in places where internet access is censored (most of Asia, SE Asia).

As China focused on building their own EV to compete with Tesla - claiming Tesla's camera integration was a threat to their national security, they are also wise not to allow Starlink to occupy their airspace - or to fly over areas where their national security is at risk - and the same goes for Russia.

As a non-user of Starlink and a supporter of China and Russia's anti-globalist agenda: I suggest high energy laser's or particle beam cannons. You don't need to "destroy them". You just need to disable them immediately, efficiently and without putting your own satellites at risk.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Starlink creates internet access in areas that may be restricted (ie. North Korea) and in places where internet access is censored (most of Asia, SE Asia).

As China focused on building their own EV to compete with Tesla - claiming Tesla's camera integration was a threat to their national security, they are also wise not to allow Starlink to occupy their airspace - or to fly over areas where their national security is at risk - and the same goes for Russia.

As a non-user of Starlink and a supporter of China and Russia's anti-globalist agenda: I suggest high energy laser's or particle beam cannons. You don't need to "destroy them". You just need to disable them immediately, efficiently and without putting your own satellites at risk.

Kessler syndrome, whats that?

 

[Alfatawi Mendel]

Do you think Musk would've gotten permission to put them in space if they didn't have military capabilities?

 

[cosminmcm]

Do you think Musk would've gotten permission to put them in space if they didn't have military capabilities?

That's why they should be taken down.

 

[cosminmcm]

Starlink creates internet access in areas that may be restricted (ie. North Korea) and in places where internet access is censored (most of Asia, SE Asia).

As China focused on building their own EV to compete with Tesla - claiming Tesla's camera integration was a threat to their national security, they are also wise not to allow Starlink to occupy their airspace - or to fly over areas where their national security is at risk - and the same goes for Russia.

As a non-user of Starlink and a supporter of China and Russia's anti-globalist agenda: I suggest high energy laser's or particle beam cannons. You don't need to "destroy them". You just need to disable them immediately, efficiently and without putting your own satellites at risk.

Based!

 

[Uncle Al]

Looks like military applications are becoming big business for commercial enterprise .... Looks like Musky may have slightly redeemed himself ...... very slightly .....

 

[captaincranky]

If they were used in the conflict to help Ukraine, yes, they should be destroyed. They should be used to watch prn where there is no other way to get internet, not for political reasons.

Why, are you afraid they might even the odds a bit?
Who knows they might even cut down on the dead Ukrainian civilian bodies in the street.

 

[wiyosaya]

As a non-user of Starlink and a supporter of China and Russia's anti-globalist agenda: I suggest high energy laser's or particle beam cannons. You don't need to "destroy them". You just need to disable them immediately, efficiently and without putting your own satellites at risk.

Anti-globalist? Surely you jest - as both would like nothing better than to dominate the rest of the world and impose their rule on all of the rest of the world.

Back on topic - China seems to be reverting to ancient history in their paranoia on outside influences. They want their citizens to see only what they want them to see, and literally anything else, not only Starlink, but Google and any other outside influences threaten the control of their citizens. Exposing their citizens to something other than their propaganda threatens their control over their citizens. Heaven forbid their citizens be exposed to truth, or even simple views, from elsewhere. That kind of attitude did not work out well for them in ancient history, and will not work out well for them now. Historically, isolationism did nothing but keep them in the dark ages in the past, and it will keep them behind everyone else in the future.

While Starlink satellites have potential military applications, it is not like modern, hand-held, radios cannot accomplish the same things without resorting to using Starlink, or any other satellites. Two-way radios, these days, are capable of forming IP networks, including encrypted networks, on their own.

 

[cosminmcm]

Why, are you afraid they might even the odds a bit?
Who knows they might even cut down on the dead Ukrainian civilian bodies in the street.

They should have barked less if they were weak. They should have stayed in their lane and not become a puppet for the Americans against the Russians. Now the natural thing happened, the big guy ****ed the little guy. And here's a free advice, stop believing the American propaganda with the "dead Ukrainian civilian bodies in the street".

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Anti-globalist? Surely you jest - as both would like nothing better than to dominate the rest of the world and impose their rule on all of the rest of the world.

Back on topic - China seems to be reverting to ancient history in their paranoia on outside influences. They want their citizens to see only what they want them to see, and literally anything else, not only Starlink, but Google and any other outside influences threaten the control of their citizens. Exposing their citizens to something other than their propaganda threatens their control over their citizens. Heaven forbid their citizens be exposed to truth, or even simple views, from elsewhere. That kind of attitude did not work out well for them in ancient history, and will not work out well for them now. Historically, isolationism did nothing but keep them in the dark ages in the past, and it will keep them behind everyone else in the future.

While Starlink satellites have potential military applications, it is not like modern, hand-held, radios cannot accomplish the same things without resorting to using Starlink, or any other satellites. Two-way radios, these days, are capable of forming IP networks, including encrypted networks, on their own.

I could replace "China" with "America" and the sentence would still be valid. America's undermining of democratically elected governments (including Ukraine 2014) gives you no leg to stand on whatsoever. AMERICA is the reason the Ukraine-Russian war is happening right now and Russia is winning.

 

[cosminmcm]

I could replace "China" with "America" and the sentence would still be valid. America's undermining of democratically elected governments (including Ukraine 2014) gives you no leg to stand on whatsoever. AMERICA is the reason the Ukraine-Russian war is happening right now and Russia is winning.

C'mon, man! Didn't you hear? Putin bad!

 

[Dd663]

"America bad, Sino-Russia good."

When did dictatorships become so popular? I suppose we'll soon be holding up North Korea as a bastion of The People?

 

[captaincranky]

They should have barked less if they were weak. They should have stayed in their lane and not become a puppet for the Americans against the Russians. Now the natural thing happened, the big guy ****ed the little guy. And here's a free advice, stop believing the American propaganda with the "dead Ukrainian civilian bodies in the street".

Hey, how about that darn Finland and Sweden joining NATO?

 

[captaincranky]

"America bad, Sino-Russia good."

When did dictatorships become so popular? I suppose we'll soon be holding up North Korea as a bastion of The People?

Techspot, as well as Ukraine has a refugee problem. Ukraine's are going to Poland, Facebook's are coming here.

 

[captaincranky]

And here's a free advice, stop believing the American propaganda with the "dead Ukrainian civilian bodies in the street".

Anything that's "free", is probably worthless. Your "advice" clearly falls into that category.

 

[captaincranky]

When did dictatorships become so popular? I suppose we'll soon be holding up North Korea as a bastion of The People?

I'm thinking somewhere between 2016 and 2020, the "scourge of the great pumpkin" years".

 

[cosminmcm]

Anything that's "free", is probably worthless. Your "advice" clearly falls into that category.

Just as anything woke turns to ****

 

[wiyosaya]

I could replace "China" with "America" and the sentence would still be valid. America's undermining of democratically elected governments (including Ukraine 2014) gives you no leg to stand on whatsoever. AMERICA is the reason the Ukraine-Russian war is happening right now and Russia is winning.

More propaganda? Russia's paranoia is responsible for the war in the Ukraine and nothing more. Russia protecting the world and itself from Nazis is utter lunacy. IMO, you have even less of a leg to stand on.

And speaking of democratic elections, what about those "democratic" elections in Russia that Putin has twisted so that he is the only candidate? Democracy, my a$$.

And Putin's daughter being groomed to take over his reign? Yep, that's democracy https://meaww.com/putin-grooms-daughter-565599

 

[wiyosaya]

Just as anything woke turns to ****

Whataboutism at its finest!!