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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihwpt!knudsen
From: knudsen@ihwpt.UUCP (mike knudsen)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Destroy SPOT with an ASAT?  (what!?)
Message-ID: <773@ihwpt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 18:46:02 EST
Article-I.D.: ihwpt.773
Posted: Thu Mar 20 18:46:02 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 07:06:16 EST
References: <261@uvacs.UUCP> <639@bentley.UUCP> <376@vger.UUCP> <56@petrus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 35

> I for one welcome the existence of SPOT, and congratulate ESA (not just
> France) on their efforts.  It is good to see that there is now another route
> into polar orbit.
> 
> I would very much like to someday see a group of independent, neutral
> nations fly a fleet of low earth orbiting observation satellites, making ALL
> results public. As someone else here commented, it would do a lot to keep
> both superpowers honest. I am tired of the US administration's habit of
> "selectively declassifying" spy photos whenever it will sway public opinion
> in favor of its policies.
> 
> Phil



References: <261@uvacs.UUCP> <639@bentley.UUCP> <376@vger.UUCP>, <56@petrus.UUCP>

Good idea, Phil.  It would also make it harder for one small
(or large) country to mount a massive sneak attack on another.
If say, Nicaraguan troops were massing along the Honduran border,
the independent satellite would spill the beans.

Since nations could count on advance warning of major attacks,
they could all maintain smaller armies and be less paranoid
in general.



	mike k
	
PS: In fact, if everyone knew where everyone else's armies were
all the time, wars could become rather unpractical!
Can't wait for the Scaninavians to get up there and do this!

This may be mangled; my terminal is sick!