Taking the ‘War’ To Space: US Launches ‘Anti-Space Mine’ Spacecrafts

U.S. Launched a pair of military spacecrafts designed to detect "space mines" and other potential threats early this Friday. The Launch comprised a second set of satellites forming a "neighborhood watch" on top of the 206-foot United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket that the Air Force hopes will discourage any Future threats to the US, reports Florida Today. The Launch took place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 12:52 a.m.

Preparation for war?

These two new satellites, along with two other already launched in 2014, will patrol a belt that wraps around a valuable region where military and commercial satellites are stationed in the geosynchronous or geostationary orbits(22,000 miles up).

"The space domain has increasingly become congested, contested, and competitive," said Lt. Sarah Burnett, a spokeswoman for Air Force Space Command, in an email. "Some countries have clearly signaled their intent and ability to conduct hostile operations in space as an extension of the terrestrial battlefield."

There are two main purposes for the spacecrafts. One concern is the potential for "space mines," small spacecraft that could sneak up to a large national security satellite and disable it through an explosion or other means.

In addition the new satellites, built by Orbital ATK, this should help gather data about the debris and also are able to inspect US satellites when experiencing problems. The Air Force disclosed the GSSAP program's existence as a deterrent, but it does not reveal where the spacecraft are flying or what they are up to.

Wait, there's more?

"The U.S. is not seeking to weaponize space," Burnett said. "Our goal is to work with all responsible space-faring nations to ensure a safe, secure, sustainable, and stable space environment." In 2015, Russian delegates presented a "No First Placement of Arms in Outer Space" resolution to the UN General Assembly. The non-binding resolution was approved in November by a vote, in which 122 nations balloted in favor of discussing ways to prevent space becoming an "arena for military confrontation". Four states voted against the proposal: the US, Israel, Ukraine and Georgia.