What strategies would shape a solar-system-wide war when heat emissions make spacecraft visible?
Short answerLight-speed delay prevents perfect tracking, so the contest depends on sensors, communications, propulsion, prediction, concealment, and defensive technology.
NotesThermal emissions travel at light speed, so an observer learns where a spacecraft was when the signal left it. The tactical possibilities depend on the speeds of sensors, communications and propulsion. If all three work faster than light, stealth or defensive systems would need to improve drastically to keep ships alive. If any one remains slower than light, delayed information or movement permits a cat-and-mouse contest. Planets and stars can also block lines of sight, allowing ships to remain hidden despite their heat emissions. The Expanse and The Lost Fleet provide fictional examples, with The Lost Fleet combining interstellar travel with slower travel and observation inside a system.