In July 2018, Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin called for the deployment of space-based sensors aimed at detecting ballistic missile launches at their early stages. He also suggested stationing interceptors in orbit around Earth capable of downing such missiles.

SpaceX's President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell announced during the Air Force Association's annual conference that the space company is ready to deploy "offensive weapons" in orbit around the Earth for the US government, if it were to ask SpaceX to do so, Defense One reported.

"If it's for the defense of this country, yes, I think we would," she said.

Previously, Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin said in July 2018 that the US needs to deploy a "sensor layer" in space in order to be able to detect launches of hypersonic ballistic missiles. He claimed that the reason for such a deployment is not technological or economic, but a "policy-decision-making" one.

He further suggested deploying 1,000 missile interceptors in space, claiming that it would cost less than what the US Defense Department had spent over recent years on missile defenses, but would be more effective.

Source: Sputnik News

Related Links
SpaceX
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Japanese billionaire businessman revealed as SpaceX's first Moon traveler
Hawthorne, United States (AFP) Sept 18, 2018
A Japanese billionaire and online fashion tycoon, Yusaku Maezawa, will be the first man to fly on a monster SpaceX rocket around the Moon as early as 2023, and he plans to bring six to eight artists along. Maezawa, 42, will be the first lunar traveler since the last US Apollo mission in 1972. He paid an unspecified amount of money for the privilege. "Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the Moon," Maezawa said at SpaceX headquarters and rocket factory in Hawthorne, California, in the middle of m ... read more