The initial development of large rockets was driven by military rivalry. The von Braun programs of military space expansionism are a ladder of projects starting with bombardment and culminating in planetary dominance, each considered in detail in this chapter. Ballistic missiles hurling nuclear weapons at intercontinental distances are commonly not considered space weapons but inherently are because they employ the frictionless vacuum of space to achieve their distinctive high speed. This means humanity’s largest and most consequential space program is hiding in plain sight, an unknown known. Information satellite force multipliers increase the potency of other weapons. There are many ways to destroy satellites, and an antisatellite race is starting. Shooting down ballistic missiles remains largely impossible, despite vast expenditures. Wrapping orbital space with hundreds of satellite battle stations, an “Earth Net,” might roll back the nuclear revolution and establish planetary hegemony. Visionary astro-Archimedeans propose stationing nuclear weapons in deep space, and using asteroids as planetoid bombs.
