The next-generation space tools: Dream Chaser shuttle, satellite swarms, and laser communication.

    The next-generation space tools: Dream Chaser shuttle, satellite swarms, and laser communication. 

1) Dream Chaser shuttle. And other miniature shuttles. 

Dream Chaser is the new competitor for NASA's next-generation small, and highly automatized space technology. The Dream Chaser operates as the cargo shuttle for the International Space Station. But as I wrote many times before the Dream Chaser, like all other shuttles, is a multi-use tool, and maybe there will be more use in the future. The Dream Chaser can also operate in the same missions as the X-37B. And that thing makes this small shuttle very interesting. 

The miniature shuttles can remove space trash. They can take satellites to Earth. And those miniature shuttles can equipped with Centaur or even nuclear rocket stages. That engine stage will dock to the shuttle, which can operate in large areas in the inner solar system. The automatized systems don't risk human lives. 

The solar panels also make it possible to connect some kind of electric arc system in that shuttle or the ion engines can get their energy from solar panels. Those systems are suitable to operate inside the asteroid belt and moon orbiter. They can used to fix things like the JWST telescope or highjack satellites. 

If we think of those miniature shuttles as ASAT weapons they are capable of that mission. If that shuttle orbits Earth opposite direction than its targets. And it activates its centrifugal cannons and shoots opposite orbiting satellite. The impact speed is the steel ball's speed plus the satellite's speed. That thing raises its energy level to an extremely high level. 

2) Satellite swarms. 

NASA's Starling CubeSats are making synchronous maneuvers at Earth's orbital trajectory. That thing predicts the new tool for space systems. The swarm of miniature satellites can act in similar missions as drone swarms. The satellite swarm can connect its sensors at one point. And that gives a group of miniature-satellites a very good resonation. Those satellite swarms act like insects' net eyes. The AI will connect those satellite sensors into one entirety. And that thing makes the military interesting about those satellite swarms. 

In some visions, high-altitude miniature satellites can orbit Earth in distant trajectories. And those systems can observe other satellites. There is a possibility that those satellites will dive to impact course to lower orbiting satellites. That thing makes them good ASAT weapons that can use to search and destroy orbital bordment systems. The satellite looks for nuclear weapons by using gamma cameras. And after that, the satellite can start its maneuver engine and impact to that target. 

In some other visions, the satellite is the quadcopter. That is inside the heat shield. The observation cameras and other antennas are installed in the heat shield, and when the satellite gets ordered it returns to the atmosphere. And then it releases that quadcopter. 

If one satellite in those swarms is destroyed by low-altitude laser or kinetic energy ASAT systems, the swarm can continue its operations. The microwave systems can destroy those satellite swarms because microwaves form the beam. That is like a shotgun shot. That system can terminate multiple satellites at the same time. 

The satellite swarms can observe large terrain areas. And they can also try to close the route from ICBM missiles. If an ICBM missile impacts that satellite swarm. That thing will destroy the missile immediately. Also, those miniature satellites can destroy other satellites impacting them. 

3) Laser communication.  And laser weapons. 

Lasers are multi-use tools. They can offer secure data transmission between satellites. Those optical communication systems are immune to solar wind. The laser systems can communicate between satellites and ground stations. They offer also good and highly secured communication tools for high-flying aircraft. 

The difference between laser weapons and laser communication tools is very small. The power of the laser ray determines if it can destroy other satellites or even ground targets. The laser systems can protect satellites against kinetic energy ASAT but the same system can used to destroy other satellites. 

The satellite can use the same lasers as communication tools and weapons. When we think about modular systems. Engineers modify multi-stage rocket's rocket stages to laser systems that can dock together. The laser system that length is 100 meters can get its energy from the sun. Or it can use hydrogen- and oxygen in its lightning tube that pumps energy to the laser element. 

Or there is a possibility that multiple miniature satellites can aim their laser at one bigger laser. Or those miniature laser satellites can aim their communication lasers at one target. The infrared radiation can raise the target's energy level to very high. The group of miniature laser satellites can feed the bigger laser by aiming their rays at the bigger satellite's laser element. And theoretically this kind of system can give higher energy loads than nuclear pumping lasers. 

The nuclear pumping laser means the system of their small nuclear bomb gives the light flash. The simplest model is a nuclear weapon like a neutron bomb that detonates next to the laser. There is also the possibility that the hollow fission- or fusion bomb will be put around the laser element. That thing can make a very high-power laser ray. Another way to make the high-energy laser ray is to aim the large group of miniature laser satellites to bigger laser's laser elements. That makes it possible to make a laser system that can affect ground targets. 

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