In the absentee ratio analysis, what is the effect of moving to higher orbits with the same number of satellites?

• A. The higher the orbit, the higher the absentee ratio with the same number of satellites, but less power will be needed for directed-energy weapons.
• B. It is best to fire weapons in the middle of the night, because enemy space operators will have a greater absentee ratio due to shift scheduling.
• C. The higher the orbit, the lower the absentee ratio with the same number of satellites, but more power will be needed for directed-energy weapons, and it will take kinetic weapons more time to reach their targets.
• D. The lower the orbit, the lower the absentee ratio with the same number of satellites, but kinetic weapons may not have time to stabilize before entering the atmosphere.

Answer: (C)

Raising the orbit changes the geometry of visibility and coverage. With the same number of satellites, being higher up lets each satellite see a larger area and remain in view of a given target more of the time, so gaps in coverage shrink. That lowers the absentee ratio—the fraction of time a target isn’t covered.

At the same time, greater distance to targets means that any directed-energy weapon must project energy over a longer path, which requires more power (to overcome beam divergence and losses and to maintain sufficient on-target intensity). For kinetic weapons, the longer travel distance translates into a longer flight time to reach the target, delaying impact and affecting timing and maneuvering considerations.

So moving to higher orbits reduces absentee ratio for the same constellation, but increases the power needs for directed-energy weapons and increases transit time for kinetic weapons.