Geostationary communications satellites are vulnerable to low earth orbit EMP attack. Presumably the m288 orbit would be more vulnerable. \James Bowery\
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EMP damage can occur because of damage to the electrical systems, and damage to the radios. A sensitive, high bandwidth radio will presumably have smaller ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection diodes, which may blow out more easily, allowing the LNA (low noise amplifier) front end to be damaged. However, voltages are low, so an ESD structure that trips at a lower voltage is possible. Designing LNA front ends that are rugged against EMP will be a tradeoff between performance and military survivability.
Serversats are 7x closer to the upper atmosphere than GEO, where EMP attacks originate, so they will pick up 49x the energy. However, they also have a smaller view angle than a GEO satellite, so many will be completely shielded by the earth from single explosions. The constellations may be severely damaged by one EMP burst, but most will survive.
LEO EMP attacks can only be mounted by nation-states with significant capabilities - nuclear weapons, and (at least) suborbital launch capability. This is not something that can be done as a stealthy act. The nation-state that launches such an attack is not likely to survive the consequences, and the leaders will probably suffer the Saddam option. On the other hand, if server-sky is developed as an asset to all nations, then the attacker nation suffers from the attack as well. The best defense against attack is to be costly to attack, and beneficial to survive, for all the potential attackers. Nations become their own hostages.
\Keith Lofstrom\
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