Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Avis Lang

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s ‘Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military’ is an arresting book delving into the secret world of scientific research and its connection to the military. This book attempts to answer numerous questions that swirl around the intimidating yet complex link between the two worlds. Tyson’s book marries astrophysics with defense, while tackling topics such as the use of technology to extend the human reach and its implications, the effect of militarized technology on politics, and recent historical examples of the military-astrophysics connection.

Tyson starts with a powerful assertion: “As astrophysics advances, it carries with it a composite of new military powers that can illuminate, modify, and at times, complicate the international landscape.” He then goes on to explore the hidden conversations and complex technologies that bind these two forces together. He emphasizes the pivotal role of astrophysics in giving the military a formidable array of options to win battles, detect enemies, and make war more decisive.

In Tyson’s words, the relationship between astrophysics and the military dates back to the earliest days of humans, which he brings to life with vivid examples from history. He highlights three key insights about the partnership between astrophysics and the military, which are that “astrophysics had long been not just accepted in military circles, but embraced.” He also argues that the military has fueled important new scientific discoveries, and that militaries were often willing to take on scientific risks without much thought of the consequences, of both an ethical and practical perspective.

Tyson then gives several examples of how astrophysics-linked technologies give militaries a significant tactical advantage. He examines the technologies that allow militaries to track incoming threats, such as radar and other sensors, as well as communication technologies that ensure that messages sent between troops can be intercepted and understood. Additionally, he explores the uses of lasers and nuclear weapons.

The roles of astrophysics in surveying and mapping the environment come alive with examples such as the satellites used to track soldiers on the ground, as well as other imaging technologies used to detect missiles or submarines. Tyson highlights some of the ways that the space industry and the military have worked together. He de-mystifies astronomical domain awareness, astronomy’s involvement in space weaponry, and hints at the possibility that the military-astrophysics partnership is becoming ever closer as technology advances and military tactics evolve.

While Tyson does not paint a completely positive picture of the melding of astrophysics and the military, he does drive home an important point. He argues that, as different forces in the world have worked together to change the way we understand astrophysics and its relationship with the military, it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine a world without this explicit collaboration between the two.

Tyson’s work is an essential read for anyone interested in learning more about the intricate link between astrophysics and the military. It gives a valuable window into the secretive world of this small and powerful alliance, which is often overlooked in conversations about astrophysics. It also dispels some myths and preconceived notions, while providing fascinating stories of the ways that this nexus has been used, and continues to be used, to shape the modern battlefield.