2007-03-23 12:35:24 · 9 answers · asked by littlerani 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
By now terrorists know that data anyway from other sources. Besides, there is always a satellite in view of pretty much any part of the world at any time...it's all about us not knowing where to do the looking!
FYI it would take a LOT more than just a few million dollars to knock out a satellite. Only the US, Russia, and just recently China, can do it. It's bigboy large scale science to do that. Even AL Qaeda doesn't have the means to do it, even if they wanted. Just reaching LEO is a $30,000,000 proposition, let alone tracking another satellite and sending a guided kill vehicle after it it.
2007-03-23 12:46:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you seriously imagine that terrorist organisations do not have the ability to work these things out for themselves? The mathematics behind orbital mechanics has been known for since the time of Isaac Newton. That means the orbits of communication and other satellites have been predictable for 300 plus years. You could program a 20 year old computer to do the calculations and have the results within seconds, maybe even a desktop calculator of similar age could do it.
If I wanted to stuff up communications I would not bother with satellites, I'd bomb a few telephone exchanges. Much more bang for the buck.
2007-03-23 23:11:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume you mean spy satellite orbits, since all other satellite orbit data is posted by the satellite companies themselves. It is needed not only for their customers, but also for space traffic control. They don't want two satellites colliding because they are in crossing orbits!
I don't think knowing a spy satellites orbit would help them much. They might hide their activities when they know the satellite is overhead, but I doubt it. It isn't like they make big troop movements, with tanks and such, that could be observed by satellite. They just drive around in regular cars, along with millions of other cars.
2007-03-23 19:48:38 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not as much as the cut-and-run defeatist Democrats in Congress giving out the date of our military departure and voting to abandon the troops without any money to win the war on terrorism.
2007-03-23 19:46:12 · answer #4 · answered by MorgantonNC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible... if the known orbits of spy satellites are tracked, then it's *possible* to be careful & try avoid our snooping.
2007-03-23 19:50:34 · answer #5 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't really see how that info would help a terrorist. do you think the terrorists might go after a satellite? if so why? they use the satellites as much as we do. so i'd say no it doesn't help any terrorists
2007-03-23 19:41:35 · answer #6 · answered by Tim C 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. Just think if the terrorists had several million dollars and a few rocketry experts in just a few years they would be able to create minor disruption to communications for a few months.
2007-03-23 19:44:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes the freedom to share knowledge is more important than safety.
2007-03-23 20:20:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not now, but as soon as they figure out how to put a car bomb into orbit - WATCH OUT!
2007-03-23 19:44:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋