$29M To Start US Satellite Protection Program

coondoggie sends in a Network World piece that begins "The Air Force laid out $29 million in contracts this week to build space-based sensors that could detect threats or hazards and protect satellites in orbit. Assurance Technologies and Lockheed Martin Space Systems will split $20 million of the two-year contract that the Air Force says should ultimately demonstrate a viable sensing capability, as well as integration with other space systems to offer threat and hazard detection, assessment and notification ... The Air Force is looking to protect satellites from ground based lasers or anti-satellite missiles mostly."

$29 Million?

[Entropy98]

$29 million doesn't buy much these days.
--
  IP Finding [ipfinding.com]

Re:Aren't the armed forces already..

[BlowHole666]

If someone starts blowing up satellites you have bigger problems then someone affording plane tickets. We can not protect our borders effectively without satellites , boats use GPS so shipping is effected. Trains use GPS to track their locations so so trade by train is effected. When you purchase gas with a credit card the transaction is sent via satellite so credit card purchases are effected. Cell phones are effected if satellites are taken out. So in other words stop to think that maybe this is a good project because the second the US starts loosing satellites we have some huge problems on our hands.

So much for...

[DeadPixels]

...the treaties against the "militarization of space." Seems like it might not be long until we've got people blowing up each others' satellites left and right.