QUOTE (ASTROBLEME @ Jan 19 2012, 06:51 AM)
Hmmmmm......can we fry a target in orbit?
The Defense Dept needs to figure this out right-quick. Consider this scenario...
As it stands... many countries (like Russia) launch potential space junk.
They may report "oops, this one is malfunctioning and will crash to earth, unknown where it will impact".
The unknown or intentionally mislabeled "malfunctioning" unit could be secretly programmed from initial launch to impact exactly where they want it to. Pentagon, White House, military base, huge list of potential strategic targets.
Then they say "sorry we had no idea where it was going to come down".
It's not a wild conspiracy theory, the technology exists.
(I should write damn novel, would make a great movie plot)
Seriously, this COULD happen and I think about it every time I hear of new space junk crashing to earth. Especially things that have recently been launched and mysteriously "failed".
Defense Dept really needs to get on this!