This was something I ran across while reading a book on radio astronomy - Francis Drake and co. were building a large radio telescope at Green Bank, and ended up watching in amazement as the US military began building one that was even more gigantic - a 600 foot monstrosity that would have been the largest fully steerable dish ever. The apparent plan was to snoop on the Soviet Union by listening to radio reflections off the Moon. The plan was abandoned when satellites offered a less expensive way of spying on Soviet SIGINT.
What if satellites were a bit further off, or the project started a bit earlier? Given Soviet use of microwave repeaters, they might well have gotten useful intelligence, but the real bonus is the monster telescope inherited by the astronomers once its mission becomes redundant.
What sort of returns are gotten by giving radio astronomers a leg up on things?
What if satellites were a bit further off, or the project started a bit earlier? Given Soviet use of microwave repeaters, they might well have gotten useful intelligence, but the real bonus is the monster telescope inherited by the astronomers once its mission becomes redundant.
What sort of returns are gotten by giving radio astronomers a leg up on things?