President Trump has told the Pentagon to take another look at missile defense. Technology to shoot down missiles has existed for decades, but the kind of missile shield Trump is looking to build would be much more complex – and expensive.

A key part of the new missile defense system, which Trump described as “Golden Dome” in a speech earlier this year, will likely be space-based interceptors, according to experts and an executive order signed by the president.

A number of defense companies have expressed interest in trying to build the Golden Dome. Last week, Reuters reported that Elon Musk’s firm SpaceX had joined a bid for the project. Musk later refuted that claim in a post on X.

Here’s why a critical part of Golden Dome might be built on the final frontier, and what building such a system would involve.

  • @BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world
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    202 months ago

    Ha ha, people keep assuming Trump would protect the full US.

    Most likely this would only protect his Sea to Lake home. (Why does he still use the 3rd world language Mar-a-Lago?)

    And maybe protect DC. And maybe a favorite golf course or two.

    And maybe protect anyone who “donates” to him.

    • FuglyDuck
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      42 months ago

      Why does he still use the 3rd world language Mar-a-Lago?

      I officially changed the name to Turd-o-Lardo. Even told google about it. They’ll update their maps eventually.

    • @RedAggroBest@lemmy.world
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      32 months ago

      No! You clearly underestimate Trump, he will throw the full force of the Taxpayer Dollar to Elon Musk and SpaceX to launch as many satellites as the anti-ICBM constellation would need.

      This is literally just a means to make Musk richer.