How would you designate targets for orbital bombardment?

Throwing big rocks at planets is so passe and any asteroid tug can do that now. The Intergalactic Arms Reduction Treaty forbids the intentional bombardment of a planet's surface with large asteroids. Further, it enjoins all space fairing races to take action to prevent such collisions. So no more big rocks. However, the treaty does not include any language to restrict orbital bombardment by an manned vessel. (There was a suspicious amount of lobbying by many defense contractors and shipwrights. But, anyway.)

Sometimes, an attacker just doesn't care how much collateral damage is done. "Just burn everything" is a valid approach. Sometimes collateral damage is unacceptable and high precision strikes must be made. Weapons systems mounted to orbital vessels include guided missiles and beams weapons. Simple mass driver weapons don't have the needed accuracy.

With massive orbital bombardment potential overhead, what technologies might an attacking force use to designate targets? Terrestrial examples in use today include GPS coordinates or laser designators. What technologies or techniques would work well for the incredible distances inherent in orbital bombardment?

Note the hard-science tag so journal articles and official sources are preferred.

posted about 9 years ago

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