Lemonade from Banana Peels

摘要

Why do critical space systems decline despite concrete reasons to expand and improve them? The U.S. Air Force has issued irrevocable direction to permanently disable the only true surveillance capability in the Space Surveillance Network, the Air Force Space Surveillance System, also known informally as the Space Fence. Fewer objects will be perceived, diminishing manpower and analysis need, and saving more money. What we don't know could hurt us and all spacefaring nations. Is there liability for damage caused by what we could and should have seen? The information loss and mission impact have been studied several times with various conclusions. They all agree that there will be serious impact if there is nothing else. At present, there is nothing else, and the closure has encouraged Congress not to support anything else. Almost every senior officer and decision maker in the last two decades has stated that space surveillance capabilities are inadequate for well-defined, essential missions.