The Orbital Carrier is designed to carry “multiple maneuverable space vehicles that can deliver a rapid response to address threats on orbit… (It) is a game-changer, acting as a pre-positioned launch pad in space. It bypasses traditional launch constraints, enabling space vehicle operators to rapidly select a deployment orbit on-demand.”
Space Force leadership has been warning that potential adversaries such as China and Russia are developing and testing new anti-satellite weaponry and capabilities, and even “practicing dogfighting in space.” Typically, counter-space operations involve radiofrequency jamming, cyberattacks or using lasers to blind sensors on spy satellites.
“…with Orbital Carrier, the service is signaling that it wants to be able to put new satellites in strategic orbits as potential adversaries conduct active operations. If an adversary satellite were to blind, or “dazzle,” a crucial optical spy satellite with a laser, for example, a spacecraft waiting in the Orbital Carrier could be quickly deployed to block the line-of-sight between the two and restore the spy satellite to operation. Or, if an individual satellite in a constellation gets damaged or degraded, the Orbital Carrier could quickly deploy a new one…”
I’m sure they have many offensive operations in mind for this little Battlestar.
“You cannot play God then wash your hands of the things you’ve created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can’t hide from the things you’ve done anymore.”
– Admiral William Adama