Feb 18 1985
From The Space Library
Sources inside and outside the Reagan Administration said the Department of Defense (DOD) was developing for constant surveillance of all objects in deep space a new generation of navigation, communications, and spy satellites, which would orbit 22,000 miles high and be aided by a nearly completed network of ground stations, the Washington Post reported. DOD would harden the new satellites against radiation and laser attacks and give them some small jet engines for maneuvering away from attack. DOD was also determining if the satellites could be armed to defend themselves.
DOD was completing Spacetrack, a worldwide U.S. network of five space-watching facilities, that would provide adequate time to take defensive actions if the USSR launched weapons at U.S. deep-space satellites. DOD's FY 86 budget reportedly would contain $20 million to complete a fully operational Spacetrack sensor system by 1988.
The Soviets had had for 10 years a rudimentary weapon that could knock down low-level U.S. satellites. The Pentagon was beginning tests on its own antisatellite weapon, which would knock down low-level Soviet satellites as they passed over the U.S. (W Post, Feb 18/85, Al)
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