That's what Xi said!
Net Assessment's somewhat weekly roundup of all things Defense and Space. Well, not "all things." "Some things" is more accurate. Frankly, "a couple things" is probably the most apt description.
I can’t get over the fact that the only Chinese “commercial” space launch company is called the “China Great Wall Industry Corporation”. It might as well be called “Nothing to See Here Pty Ltd.”
“With every launch you pay for, we get three spy satellites for free!”
https://www.space.com/china-long-march-6-rocket-launches-13-satellites
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/10/26/china-launches-three-military-spy-satellites/
This seems, shall we say…aggressive?
Ah. Say no more.
https://nypost.com/2020/11/05/vladimir-putin-planning-to-step-down-next-year-report/
I’m serious - don’t say anything, or he will have you poisoned.
Speaking of autocrats, Elon is attempting the world’s first coup d’ToS. In all seriousness, he’s only a flamethrower away from being Hank Scorpio from The Simpsons. Oh wait.
Yes, very cool. That is, until you get to the whole Kessler Syndrome part.
https://taskandpurpose.com/history/air-force-pilot-shot-down-a-satellite
I haven’t read the entire article, but I can only assume this involves a sweet six-wheeled buggy that hops and shoots both up AND forward simultaneously. The Space Force might want to expand their age bracket if they want to bring in true SMEs…
https://spacenews.com/moon-patrols-could-be-a-future-reality-for-the-u-s-military/
In 100%, totally, and completely unrelated news, we’ve never been more fascinated by an article that can easily be summed up by “Man risks life in order to find, sell old pants.”
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/25/experience-i-mine-for-denim
Book Club!
Non-Fiction - We’re loving Kill Chain by Christian Brose. It is a no-nonsense dissection of the issues plaguing Defense acquisitions, the tensions between Silicon Valley and Washington DC, and the National Security implications of China as truly equal global superpower.
Story time! The Forever War by Joe Halderman. What happens in a FTL relativistic warfare environment? PURE ENTERTAINMENT. Also, obligatory compound interest shenanigans.
And finally, it’s been a long week - your moment of Zen.
“Of course, this footage is old, because in 2020, COVID has obliterated the sport.”
(NSFW language warning. But seriously, if we are all working from home, does NSFW mean anything any more? Sigh - another casualty of COVID.)
-JQP
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