Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post new mods and scenarios here.

Moderator: MOD_Command

Post Reply
Eboreg
Posts: 319
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:35 pm

Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post by Eboreg »

A while back, I created (and am currently still maintaining) a scenario that postulates that Anti-Satellite missile attacks have not only wiped out the satellite assets of both sides of a conflict but have also created a massive debris field making any current or future satellite usage untenable for the time being. Now while I tried to fit the weapon choices into this backstory by making neither side able to use GPS-guided munitions, I still found a number of weapons where GPS-guidance is optional such as "Inertial Guidance with GPS updates" or having both laser and GPS guidance. Is there any way I can modify the scenario so that these weapons will be unable to use their GPS guidance?
baboeska
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:17 am

RE: Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post by baboeska »

I have no idea, definitely something that's crossed my mind, posting to follow.
Sounds like a rather unlivable world.
I'd assume there might be some data/lua's in the Chains of War scenarios that is relevant to you? I seem to remember the capacity to shut down US satellites/THAAD batteries etc in maybe the "Hail Mary" scenario?
The idea of a runaway cascade natural process that we've triggered that now results in no further space access is pretty dire.
There's also the ionosphere to think about, and untold damage to... Possibly one of the several reasons high altitude nuclear tests were stopped (Project/Operation Rainbow I believe?).
User avatar
SeaQueen
Posts: 1436
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:20 am
Location: Washington D.C.

RE: Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post by SeaQueen »

Right now there's not any modeling of the kinds of debris that space war might create. It's actually a pretty complicated thing to do correctly. If a weapon strikes it's target from above, then conservation of momentum will carry the debris down into the atmosphere, limiting the debris created. If it strikes from below, then it will push debris out into higher trajectories. Satellites are mostly just sensors, although you can shoot them down if you can get in the right spot with the right weapons.

Similarly, GPS guided weapons are not dependent on the presence of any satellites. Their presence and adequate functionality is assumed. Probably the best way to represent a GPS-denied environment is just don't use GPS guided weapons, and realize that sometimes you're going to have to go home without dropping because of weather, and allow for buddy lasing either by troops on the ground or drones. More complicated that GPS-denied, is GPS-degraded. In real life, that'd have the effect of increasing the CEP of the weapon, which might be fine in the case of some targets but not in others. I'm not sure I know of a good way to capture that in Command.
Zanthra
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 3:23 am

RE: Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post by Zanthra »

A Kessler syndrome would take years to degrade GPS to the point of being unusable, and in the meantime other means of guidance and radio navigation would be fast tracked. Keep in mind also that INS, TERCOM and alternative radio navigation systems would be significantly more capable and accurate built on today’s digital computers than when GPS took over. While in general CEPs may be slightly higher for guided weapons, it won’t impact weapons as much as one might initially think.
Eboreg
Posts: 319
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:35 pm

RE: Is there any kind of "Kessler Syndrome" mode?

Post by Eboreg »

What about GPS jammers? Are any of those present in the Database?
Post Reply

Return to “Mods and Scenarios”