What is identified as an advantage of placing conventional weapons in orbit to attack terrestrial targets?

• A. The use of such weapons would be plausibly deniable.
• B. It would have almost no transportation costs.
• C. It could be done largely with existing technology.
• D. Such weapons could maneuver on orbit, enabling them to evade enemy attack.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that an orbital conventional-weapon system could be built largely from technologies that already exist today. This means you could assemble and deploy such a system using proven rockets, spacecraft subsystems, guidance and targeting networks, and conventional munitions without needing major new breakthroughs. That lowers development risk and speeds up fielding, since you’re leveraging a familiar technological base rather than waiting for entirely new capabilities to be created.

While it might seem attractive to imagine deniability, or very low transport costs, or the ability to maneuver on orbit as clear advantages, those aren’t the central reasons this approach is considered advantageous. The strongest point is the practicality and readiness of available technology: it points to a deployment path using existing, tested components rather than new, unproven tech.