China tests anti-satellite missile

MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
Scientists decry China satellite-killer
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- News that China had tested an anti-satellite missile brought a sharp objection from the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

The anti-war group called on Beijing to drop its research into space-based weaponry and declared that space should be reserved for peaceful purposes.

The organization said the test had, in fact, created a debris field that posed a threat to other satellites, not just the defunct Chinese spacecraft reportedly shattered by the Jan. 11 test.

"At the very high speeds these debris particles would have, particles as small as 1 millimeter can be very destructive," the USC said in a statement Thursday, "While shielding on satellites can help protect against small particles, most satellites do not carry such shielding. Moreover, shielding is not effective against debris larger than about 1 centimeter in size."

One centimeter is less than half an inch.

The organization said the test occurred at an altitude of 850 kilometers (528 miles), dangerously close to the 900-kilometer (559 miles) altitude where large numbers of civilian satellites are in orbit.

The reported test was a significant development in the military use of space, which has thus far been a safe haven for increasingly sophisticated intelligence and communications satellites. Analysts have warned that knocking out such satellites could seriously handicap U.S. military capabilities.
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http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20070118-111232-3102r
 
MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and Britain on Friday joined an international chorus of concern over a recent satellite-killing missile test by China -- the first known experiment of its type in more than 20 years.

"We are concerned about it firstly from the point of view of peaceful use of space and secondly from the safety perspective," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference.

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile, the test knocked out an aging Chinese weather satellite about 865 km (537 miles) above the earth on January 11 through "kinetic impact," or by slamming into it, the U.S. National Security Council said earlier.

The last U.S. anti-satellite test took place on September 13, 1985. Washington then halted such Cold War-era testing, concerned by debris that could harm civilian and military satellite operations.

"We have concerns about the impact of debris in space and we've expressed that concern," British Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman told reporters, adding that discussions took place at the level of officials rather than ministers.

He said Britain did not believe the test contravened international law, but was concerned by the lack of consultation. The test was "inconsistent with the spirit of China's statement to the UN and other bodies on the military use of space," Blair's spokesman added.

The United States, Australia and Canada have already conveyed their concerns over the missile test to Beijing.

CHINESE PEACE PLEDGE

Japan, which has been patching up relations with China damaged by disputes over wartime history, has long been concerned about its giant neighbor's rising military strength and has called for more transparency from China on defense spending.

Last March, China announced a 14.7 percent rise in spending on defense to $35.3 billion.

Tokyo has asked the Chinese government for confirmation that the satellite-killing missile test took place and for an explanation of what China's intentions were, Shiozaki said.

"When we passed on the message, the Chinese side said they would take Japan's concerns into account and that they want to maintain the peaceful use of space," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.

China's Foreign Ministry would not offer immediate comment.

"We do not understand the situation and it would not be convenient for us to say anything," an official surnamed Zhang from China's Defense Ministry told Reuters by telephone.

According to David Wright of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, the satellite pulverized by China could have broken into nearly 40,000 fragments from 1 cm to 10 cm or up to 4 inches, roughly half of which would stay in orbit for more than a decade.

The United States has been researching satellite-killers of its own, experimenting with lasers on the ground that could disable, disrupt and destroy spacecraft.

Marco Caceres, a space expert at the Teal Group, an aerospace consulting firm in Fairfax, Virginia, said China's test could bolster a host of costly military space programs, almost all of which are over budget and behind schedule.

(Additional reporting by Katherine Baldwin in London and Lindsay Beck in Beijing)
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Response from the UK and Japan
 
chcr

chcr

Too cute for words
The anti-war group called on Beijing to drop its research into space-based weaponry and declared that space should be reserved for peaceful purposes.
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What planet do these guys live on. :rofl:

Does anyone seriously believe that space will only be used for peaceful purposes by anybody?
 
MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
chcr said:
What planet do these guys live on. :rofl:

Does anyone seriously believe that space will only be used for peaceful purposes by anybody?
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Will be? Hell, it hasn't been for years, decades even. Spy satellites are just the oldest example, imagery for field placement and movement of enemy and friendly troops are almost as old, now it's communications, gps and sat-guided missiles. The latter being precisely why the chinese are looking into knocking out satellites.

Take out the eyes and ears of the enemy and reduce their combat effectiveness to a small percentage of the original. Stop the ability for commanders to talk with their troops and that'll bring it down even further. Stop gps tracking/targeting and you reduce the effectiveness of smart missiles, sat-radar for planes etc etc...

cutting off the supply of information is more important today that cutting off food / ammo supply trains of yesteryear.

Oh..and it's really tough to track and disable incoming ICBMs without sats to find and track'em , eh.
 
Gonz

Gonz

molṑn labé
Staff member
The fisrt shots in a future major world conflict will be off planet. Shut off the satelites & the enemy flies blind.

Antbody else wanna laugh at Reagans "Star Wars"?
 
MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
Sure...gimme a second. :eek3:

Star Wars was meant to be a way of knocking out ballistic missiles from the ground or from space. Neither of which will do SFA against sat-smashers like the one China just demonstrated, and neither of which works once the radar-sats have been knocked out of commission.

The lasers in space idea was pretty spacey back then...still don't work.

Best to work on your own sat-smashing "Tomato cans"...knock their eyes out first so they can't find your eyes.

:bgpimp:
 
Gonz

Gonz

molṑn labé
Staff member
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is about a missile defense shield. Its job is to knock out missilies...I'd have to assume they are able to target.
 
MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
If they got a few AWACs in the air, they might, but you need satellites to track the inbound missiles, and the launches.

I don't think that China would actually try anything that MAD (Mutually assured destruction).
 
A.B.Normal

A.B.Normal

New Member
The United States has been researching satellite-killers of its own, experimenting with lasers on the ground that could disable, disrupt and destroy spacecraft.
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Over the years, Russia and China have sided with each other to seek an international treaty banning weapons in space. The United States has opposed such a treaty, and in October the Bush administration issued a new national space policy advocating "freedom of action" in space.
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Another case of we're allowed to but you better not.:rolleyes:
 
AlphaTroll

AlphaTroll

New Member
Sorry for dragging an old thread up...but somehow I read the heading as China tests anti-cellulite missile...was just thinking DAMN I want one of those lol
 
Gonz

Gonz

molṑn labé
Staff member
AT love, disregard these animals. Follow me, I've got something to show you in the love missile line.
 
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