On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:44:57 -0500, Mitty wrote:

Interesting. The GPS function of the GPS constellation would not be vulnerable
to this type of attack because the delivered energy levels are low. Enough to
blind a camera but not enough to physically damage the bird.

The DOD designers considered all of these issues when they originally
worked on the system. It was, after all, originally a military system.
That's why they designed it the way they did.

An attacker would have to destroy more than just one bird to disable
the system. If they did that, especially with a nuclear device, then
civil aviation operators would have bigger issues than whether GPS was
working. This would be an act of war. Civil aviation would be
grounded, civilians would be instructed to "duck and cover" and pull
out their cache of duct tape, Internal Revenue agents would be
scurrying about implementing those emergency plans to make sure
everyone can pay taxes while civilization is being torn asunder.

Focus, people.

On the other hand, at least they aren't saying that George W. Bush is
using the GPS satellites to spy on Americans.

RK Henry