Chinese Test ASAT Weapon

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Subject: Chinese Test ASAT Weapon
Softwar 1/18/2007 1:11:43 PM

"http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_space_story.jsp?id=news/CHI01177.xml" Chinese Test Anti-Satellite Weapon By Craig Covault, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Cape Canaveral Wednesday, January 17, 2007 U. S. intelligence agencies believe China performed a successful anti-satellite (asat) weapons test at more than 500 mi. altitude Jan. 11 destroying an aging Chinese weather satellite target with a kinetic kill vehicle launched on board a ballistic missile. The Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, NASA and other government organizations have a full court press underway to obtain data on the alleged test, Aviation Week & Space Technology will report in its Jan. 22 issue. If the test is verified it will signify a major new Chinese military capability. Details emerging from space sources indicate that the Chinese Feng Yun 1C (FY-1C) polar orbit weather satellite launched in 1999 was attacked by an asat system launched from or near the Xichang Space Center. Details emerging from space sources indicate that the Chinese Feng Yun 1C (FY-1C) polar orbit weather satellite launched in 1999 was attacked by an asat system launched from or near the Xichang Space Center.

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Softwar Leftist Urge Paper Treaty 1/22/2007 8:42:40 AM

As I predicted...

From Yahoo/Reuters ---

China experts see space blast as puzzle and warning

Xia Liping, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer and professor at the Shanghai Institute for International Strategic Studies, said Beijing did not want an arms race in space. But the reported test may have been intended to push Washington toward international talks aimed at preventing a race, he suggested.

Christian Science Monitor -

At the very least, the US should consider a global ban on precisely the kind of weapon that China has demonstrated. Apart from this technology's military significance, weapons like these produce huge amounts of orbital debris that can damage all satellites and remain in orbit for many years - a dangerous legacy for all spacefaring nations.

Article by Bruce W. MacDonald former assistant director for national security in the Science Adviser's office in the Clinton White House and Charles D. Ferguson, a fellow for science and technology at the Council on Foreign Relations

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Herc the Merc Russian reaction to ASAT test+others 1/22/2007 12:31:38 PM

Apparently they are discussing ASAT ABM on board, for their new GPS system (Glosnass??). India to considering ASAT ABMs. I guess the latecomers to the party in space will have missile shield.

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Nanheyangrouchuan Despite denials, the CCP may have known about the test 1/22/2007 4:43:18 PM

- China Editor's Briefing
Less than three days before China reportedly carried out its first 
successful test of an anti-satellite weapon, some official media outlets 
ran a short report on remarks by Huang Qiang, spokesman for the 
Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. The timing 
of his remarks could not have been more significant, especially the use 
of the phrases "some new sophisticated weaponry" and "deterrent 
capabilities" in the same sentence.
http://breakingnews.scmp.com/NLet/NLet.asp?Sec=columns&SubS=colart&SSec=clife&Id=ZZZYGWWH4XE&P=Y&NT=china

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Jeff_F_F 1/22/2007 6:16:48 PM

The Chinese are already heavily involved in infowar, most of it covert - suspected internet attacks on US military websites and such. It makes sense for them to develop ASAT weapons to disrupt enemy information warfare efforts. I don't see a valid deterrent involved - at least not a symetrical deterrent such as the nuclear deterrent, since no one else has ASAT weapons. It's pure spin, and it is only the lazy gullibility of western MSM that allows it to fly.

The only purposes I see to this are either to obtain and maintain a ASAT weapon capability to destroy satelites during a conventional war, or to premptively pursuade the US to abandon development of future weapons utilizing space is some way, such as space fighters, suborbital railguns, and such.

Conceding any future military capability would be a huge mistake. The better strategy is move forward with the development of weapons to destroy ballistic rockets in the boost phase which would provide ballistic missile defense that we want anyway, and also would remove the threat posed by this weapon. If the Chinese want an arms race, that's fine. We've played that game before, and it turned out pretty well for us.

ASAT lasers are harder to counter. Some hardening might be possible, but probably the only solution is to establish the capability and intention--both military and plitical--to destroy the site of any such weapon in retaliation/self defense, and have spare satellites ready for launch to replace any lost capability.

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Softwar US Fault China Tested ASAT 1/23/2007 9:40:08 AM

"http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/world/asia/23cnd-china.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"

LINK

The Chinese government confirmed today that it had conducted a successful test of a new anti-satellite weapon, but said it had no intention of participating in a "space race"....Liu Jianchao, the foreign ministry spokesman, issued the first official comment on the matter...

"This test was not directed at any country and does not constitute a threat to any country," he said.

"What needs to be stressed is that China has always advocated the peaceful use of space, opposes the weaponization of space and an arms race in space," he said. "China has never participated and will never participate in any arms race in outer space."

Xu Guangyu, a former Chinese army officer and an official at the government-run China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said the anti-satellite test amounted to an attempt to redefine the "rules of the game" and bring the United States to the negotiating table.

"What China is saying is, "let's sit down and talk,"" Mr. Xu said. "There is a trend toward weaponization of space that no one, especially China, wants to see."

He criticized the Bush administration for declining to join international negotiations on the issue. He said the United States and the former Soviet Union first used anti-satellite weapons in the 1980s, and that China was not doing anything new.

"It is purely catch up," he said. "Our policy of using space for peaceful purposes absolutely has not changed."

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HIPAR 1/29/2007 7:11:24 PM

"What China is saying is, "let's sit down and talk,"" Mr. Xu said. "There is a trend toward weaponization of space that no one, especially China, wants to see."

Talk about what? Is the United States really weaponizing space? Weapons in space are a bad idea. They cannot receive the maintenance required to keep them ready for use while in space.

Are reconnaissance satellites weapons? The US certainly has lots of those and will not be talked out of launching more. Will the US be scared off from maintaining the GPS constellation? Say what?

The test was a bad idea. It will certainly have a deleterious diplomatic impact for China. If China destroys a US satellite there might not be war but there will be hell to be paid .. most likely economic in nature.

We here in the US might have to reopen our mills and make our own underwear again. Heaven forbid!

--- CHAS

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Softwar US provided debris data to China 2/20/2007 9:22:10 AM

Here is one for the weird news department...

The US provided China with tracking data on space debris in 2005 for the Shenzhou 6 space mission.

I wonder if similar data will follow after the A-sat test? The PRC manned missions are vulnerable to debris from their own missile shot.

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