Military Shuts Out Scientists from Infra-Red Signatures on All Meteors Which Hit the Planet

The military has decided to deny scientists data on incoming meteors in order to protect military secrets.  Anyone who can't see any problems with this arrangement, well done on never having seen a movie -ever.  Oh, and get Michael Bay on the phone - we've got his next plot ready.

The Air Force's Defense Support Program satellite network scans the globes for infra-red signatures (indicative of missile blasts and nuclear explosions) and incidentally picks up incredibly detailed information on all meteors which hit the planet.  Something the military didn't think was particularly interesting.  They did at least send the occasional update to the Earth-watching scientific community, scraps of data they didn't need, but a recent announcement makes it clear that there will be no more.

The most likely reason is an upgrade to the satellite defense network, with the top brass believing that any risk of revealing the capabilities of the new system is unacceptable.  The worst thing is that it isn't really secrecy that's stopping the data transfer, but miserliness.  It's the work of moments to boil out any unwanted information revealed by records of meteor strikes, but with their hundred-billion dollar budget the USAF just doesn't see the point in hiring someone to do it.  That would be money with absolutely no ability to kill people, after all, and paltry little things like "using the most advanced satellite network in existence to further our understanding of the universe" isn't going to blow anybody up either.

They're literally throwing out incredible data because they can't be bothered to keep it.  This is everything that's wrong with human ambition right here.

Luke McKinney

Military Shuts Out Scientists

Comments

[Teela]

WTF!! It seems to me that those who are suppose to protect us are just plain stupid. Our planet is a small hunk of rock just chillin in a universe of flying debris.In order to keep our treasure safe, we should be allowed to look at the patterns of meteors so we know what to expect and how to deal with and be aware of the big ones. We have the technology to observe meteors so lets use it! Or is our government just gonna sit back and let science be pushed down by the bully of ignorance?

[Anonymous]

Unless you are in the Air Force and working directly with the data, you DO NOT know all the facts; please stop assuming that you do. The simple fact is that these satellites were placed in orbit by the military: we own them, so why should they be used for anything other than military endeavors? Feel free to comment on this however you see fit: I will still be here to protect your rights, your freedoms, and your lives. You may think the military is nothing but a bunch of juiced-up gun-toting baby-killers, but there are many enlightened individuals amongst our ranks - scientists included, of which I am one.

[Malte]

Your are hilarious! You don't actually believe that you are protecting anyone's rights, freedom and lives. The patriotism is irrelevant to the current status of developed countries. Blowing the crap out of defenceless third world countries is not patriotic or honourable and is definitely not protecting anyone's rights, freedom or lives.
So what if the military owns the satellite, Teela made a very good point about how the information is actually used to better our understanding of meteors and the threats they impose. Perhaps the military is capable of collecting and analysing data, but they will not be able to match the level of research produced when the information is given to the mass.

[Anon]

It's funny--I can only remember one attack on US citizens in recent history... Great job protecting them, by the way! I'm sure a war of aggression against people who had absolutely nothing to do with it will protect the Western World even more!

[autoexistencia@hotmail.com]

besides, you actualy have the arrogance to admit to keeping secrets and you rub it in? what is the point of that? just tell us the secret that we stumbled up instead of shooting us down, by being treated so little respect i cant help but feel that the military so far is the only sillyness if it is going to keep on treating us as slaves instead of serving, the last time i checked we appointed the military and police to provide us with service, you are our servants and not the other way arround and once everyone realizes this, the ones with the inteligence and the courage to will make the revolution world wide against the new world order to come not even machines will help you then. you will have met your match out of lack of beliefe in true freedom for paradise.

[EvilCosmicMonkeyfrom Knoxville]

There's got to be an alternative to using military satellites. C'mon, even with budget cuts, JPL still has resources like its DSN satellite system, which allows us to track asteroids. Tracking meteors & tracking potentially dangerous asteroids is a tough call to make, but an asteroid can do a helluva lot more damage.

[Basuto9]

I assume that "anonymous" is being facetious - the military didn't have bake sales and car washes to raise money to buy these satellites, they used our tax money, which means WE own these things. As I recall, the commander-in-chief of ALL branches of the military is a civilian. (I did get a kick out of his comment, though)

[novawatson]

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