Hired orbital killer "Jackal" goes hunting: satellite inspector from a private American company True Anomaly
The fact that space is the most important factor in achieving victory in armed confrontation is no longer a secret to anyone. However, not everyone still imagines how great his influence will be, in fact there will be only two options: either you dominate in space or at least maintain parity in it, or you are just a target - an Indian tribe during the colonization of America.
Growth Factors
The key factor that ensures the colonization of outer space is the cost of launching a payload (PN) into orbit. Recently, there have been serious shifts in this direction in the form of the creation of fully reusable launch vehicles (LV). In the first place here is the American company SpaceX with its project of a super-heavy two-stage launch vehicle Starship, both stages of which are reusable. SpaceX has already made the first attempt to launch Starship, albeit unsuccessful so far, but they are not slowing down - in the coming months, we can expect the next attempt.
SpaceX Starship launch vehicle
A sharp decrease in the cost of launching a payload into orbit directs a huge number of private and state companies to develop promising means of space exploration in the interests of business and government agencies. For example, in the USA Capella Space launched its own constellation of radar reconnaissance satellites into orbit and sells high-resolution images of the earth's surface to everyone.
Sample satellite image from Capella Space
However, until now, all projects proposed by private companies have been conditionally peaceful - no, of course, almost any peaceful space project can be used or adapted for military needs, for example, Starlink communication satellites are actively used by our enemies in Ukraine, but still the declared main goals space startups were peaceful.
It looks like things are starting to change. The American company True Anomaly offers US defense structures inspector satellites of its own design. Rather, not even satellites, but something more - in fact, a comprehensive solution for tracking, tracking, intercepting data, and, if necessary, destroying enemy spacecraft.
The jackals smelled blood and money
“The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth, from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly creates technologies at the intersection of spacecraft, software and artificial intelligence to empower the United States, its allies and commercial partners. We protect global security by ensuring space access and resilience for all.”
These are the goals stated on the True Anomaly website. True Anomaly CEO and co-founder Ewen Rogers, a former US Air Force major, is more specific:
"True Anomaly is revolutionizing space security with fully integrated technologies designed to protect the interests of the United States and its allies."
What does this mean in practice?
The basis of the concept developed by True Anomaly is maneuvering satellites / spacecraft (SC) Jackal ("Jackal"), capable of changing the orbit and flight path, approaching enemy spacecraft. Depending on the assigned task, the Jackal can examine a given enemy spacecraft, study it using sensors of various types and purposes. The means of reconnaissance of the spacecraft "Jackal" should include a radar station (RLS), multispectral cameras and other equipment.
Spacecraft "Jackal"
Presumably, the "Jackals" will be able to intercept information transmitted from the examined spacecraft, including control signals. And, of course, the very possibility of intensive maneuvering and rendezvous with given spacecraft provides for the possibility of their destruction with the help of a direct collision, that is, the Jackal spacecraft can be used as a kamikaze satellite.
Potentially, if positive results are achieved, the US military may purchase thousands of Jackal spacecraft.
"True Anomaly wants to be the US Space Force's favorite contractor."
However, this is not all that True Anomaly is going to offer the US Armed Forces.
The Jackal spacecraft should become part of the Mosaic integrated system, which provides information from the sensors of the Jackal spacecraft, processes it using artificial intelligence and presents it to operators in a visual graphical form. The software (software) of the "Mosaic" system from True Anomaly will allow not only to receive information from the "Jackal" spacecraft, to control them, but also to train operators, to simulate various scenarios for conducting operations in space.
Software interface of the Mosaic system by True Anomaly
“True Anomaly creates innovative technologies at the interface of spacecraft, software and artificial intelligence to provide solutions for space security, resilience and accessibility. The company enables the US government, its allies and partners, and the commercial space industry to conduct safe and sustainable operations in orbit to protect life on Earth.”
Some frames from True Anomaly's demo videos suggest the seriousness of the company's intentions, in particular, they show the flight path of the Jackal spacecraft passing beyond the orbit of the Moon. Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but it is possible that the Jackal spacecraft will be able to operate in orbits, up to geostationary.
Image of the trajectory of the spacecraft "Jackal", passing above the orbit of the moon
Threats and Solutions
The problem of destroying the enemy spacecraft in space has been raised by the author more than once. For example, in the material "Knockin 'on Heaven" considered ways to destroy satellites using missiles launched from the surface or from air carriers - this method is suitable only for hitting a limited number of targets due to its high cost. The complexes considered in the material are much closer to the "Jackal" spacecraft "Orbital Cleaners", especially if we talk about commercial satellite projects for “debris removal from orbit” - in other words, let's not be hypocritical, the destruction of enemy spacecraft.
In conditions when Russian programs for the creation of reusable launch vehicles are in their infancy, asymmetric solutions are required that can ensure Russia, if not dominance, then at least parity in outer space.
A temporary solution, if not reducing the cost, then at least diversifying access to outer space, could be use of obsolete intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) to launch Russian spacecraft into orbit.
However, it can be assumed that the simplest and most effective solution could be creation and deployment of orbital interceptors of the "Reaper" type, designed for the sequential destruction of enemy spacecraft with guided and / or unguided munitions.
The concept of the orbital interceptor "Reaper"
It is possible that in the near future we will see who will dominate the orbit of our planet - the "Reapers" or the "Jackals".
Information