What would real-life space combat be like?

[Champakian]

It is a subject that bears thinking about, now that we have an actual military Space Force, or at least something with that name.

It seems to me that a spaceship is so vulnerable that victory would always go to whoever shoots first. A ship with effective armor would be too heavy to launch.

Also, what weapons would be involved? Lasers would seem the obvious choice based on SF, but are they really any more effective for this purpose than projectiles?

The space station was too heavy to launch.
That's why it went up in pieces...

 

[GuyandDoll]

Awesome thread.

 

[BBCfan]

Anyone contemplating space combat, especially in near Earth orbit, may be interested in the Kessler syndrome. By some accounts, we're already in the early phase of the syndrome.

They will likely figure out space junk removal before it gets too catastrophic?

A few companies seem on the verge of being able to...I hope.

 

[BBCfan]

The space battles from the tv show, "The Expanse" would probably be the most realistic example of what space combat would look like.

Best sci-fi series EVER...C'mon season 6!

 

[pecksniff]

They will likely figure out space junk removal before it gets too catastrophic?

A few companies seem on the verge of being able to...I hope.

Maybe a really, really big net . . .

 

[BBCfan]

Maybe a really, really big net . . .

That was theorized as a potential solution. Clear Space is one company going to use something that looks like a net to me...

Another is going with invisible net...ie. magnets, as much is broken up smaller fragments.

 

[pecksniff]

The space station was too heavy to launch.
That's why it went up in pieces...

There is also the possibility of things being manufactured and assembled in space, out of materials mined from the Moon or from asteroids. But that can't happen until there's a whole lot of industrial infrastructure in place there.

 

[Deleted member 1306910]

So there are all kinds of types of combat. There are also new materials being created and that can play into this question.

Nano composite fabrics that hold in heat and are strong enough to resist puncturing, and maintain a shape with current running through them. These would be extremely light weight, but super strong. So imagine a spaceship more like a blimp than anything else.

Also, cyber warfare is going to play a much bigger role than anyone else has thought about except for the ones already on the forefront of the war.

 

[nowisthetime]

Reminds me of Space Quest
https://lparchive.org/Space-Quest-Series/Update%2037/fight142a.gif