U.S. Takes First Step To Weaponize Space

MISSILE DEFENSE

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Washington (UPI) Mar 30, 2004
Washington's Missile Defense Agency has earmarked $68 million for what some believe is the first step for putting weapons in space, ABC News reported Tuesday.

Known as the Near Field Infrared Experiment or NFIRE satellite, it is primarily designed to gather data on exhaust plumes from rockets launched from earth.

As a result, military officials say the $68 million item in the 2005 budget is a defensive, rather than offensive project.

But, critics point out, the satellite will also contain a smaller "kill vehicle," a projectile that takes advantage of the kinetic energy of objects traveling through low-Earth orbit (which move at several times the speed of a bullet) to disable or destroy an oncoming missile or another orbiting satellite.

As one senior government official and defense expert, who requested anonymity, said, "We're crossing the Rubicon into space weaponization."

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MISSILE DEFENSE

United Defense Wins Ground Based Missile Defense Canister Contract

Minneapolis - Feb 20, 2004
United Defense Industries, Inc. has been awarded a contract for the refurbishment of existing canisters and production of new canisters for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. The total value of the contract, awarded by Boeing is approximately $ 2.1 million if all options are exercised.

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