The Space Shuttle’s Military Threat

My favorite part about the economically dubious space shuttle decision is what the Soviets made of it. TsNIIMash specialists came to the conclusion that the Space Shuttle would never become economically viable if it was only used for the goals that NASA officially announced. In their opinion the Shuttle’s 30-ton payload-to-orbit capacity and, more significantly, its 15-ton payload return capacity, were a clear indication that one of its main objectives would be to place massive experimental laser weapons into orbit that could destroy enemy missiles from a distance of several thousands of kilometers.

Source: youzicha.tumblr.com