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See also https://gwern.net/colder-war
I think the question of interstellar warfare is really tricky. Grand Futures has a whole appendix on this, but the impression I get is that within the distance of a few parsec this is indeed a problem (objects/lasers can be aimed ~okay easily), but over larger scales you're safe because aiming/stochastic motion of large bodies becomes a problem
@niplav Wouldn't heat seeking missiles work better than laser guided at that point? Well, maybe not quite so simplistic, but something that can dynamically alter its course.
@Paradox changing course when you're moving at an appreciable fraction of c is really expensive
@niplav Not if you do it really carefully.
I'm sure there's ramifications in terms of sensor tech that would take some thought I just haven't put into it yet, but it should be more doable that trying to shine a laser on a target a lightyear away.
@Paradox@raru.re@niplav I guess the two aren't mutually exclusive.