'Star Wars' missile test heralds new arms race in space

The Times ^ | January 19, 2007 | Tim Reid

[MadIvan]

The White House reacted with alarm and anger last night after China successfully destroyed a satellite with a ballistic missile, the first space test of such offensive military technology by any nation in more than 20 years.

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile, the test knocked out an ageing Chinese weather satellite 537 miles above the Earth on January 11 through “kinetic impact”, or by slamming into it, Gordon Johndroe, President Bush’s national security spokesman, said.

The test comes amid increasing fears within the Bush Administration over potentially hostile nations and terrorist groups acquiring technology to destroy crucial US space systems on which the country — and particularly its military — heavily depends. It will inevitably stoke fears in Washington of a potentially dangerous new arms race in space.

The last US anti-satellite test took place in 1985. But Washington halted such Cold War-era testing, concerned by debris that could harm civilian and military satellite operations on which the West increasingly relies for everything from guiding warplanes to internet access.

“The US believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of co-operation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area,” Mr Johndroe said. “We and other countries have expressed our concern regarding this action to the Chinese.”

Chinese military experts say that the country’s military capabilities lag about 20 years behind developed nations. Official Chinese figures show that defence spending has been rising by more than 10 per cent a year since 1990.

Aviation Week & Space Technology, the first to report the test, cited sources saying that a Chinese Feng Yun 1C polar orbit weather satellite, launched in 1999, was destroyed by an anti-satellite system launched from or near China’s Xichang Space Centre in Sichuan province.

David Wright, of the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said that the satellite pulverised by China could have broken into 40,000 fragments from 1cm to 10cm, or up to 4in, roughly half of which would stay in orbit for more than a decade. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said last night: “The UK raised this issue with the Chinese authorities on Wednesday. Our concern is the possible effects of debris in outer space caused by the break-up of the satellite.”

Washington’s concerns over the threat to its satellites as China embarks on its “Star Wars” programme triggered an aggressive revision of its national space policy in October that asserted America’s right to deny access to space to anyone hostile to its interests. In a speech about the policy last month, Robert Joseph, the State Department’s chief arms control and international security official, said that other nations and possibly terrorist groups were “acquiring capabilities to counter, attack and defeat US space systems”.

He added: “No nation, no non-state actor, should be under the illusion that the United States will tolerate a denial of our right to the use of space for peaceful purposes.”

China insists that its military policy is purely defensive, but its repetitions appear intended to allay fears among its neighbours that it is developing an increasingly formidable array of weaponry.

Less than two weeks ago, military manufacturers unveiled China’s home-made fighter jet, the Jian-10. China has just released its first defence White Paper in two years that sets out ambitious goals for the People’s Liberation Army. The paper focused heavily on the need for technological modernisation.

The US has been researching “satellite-killing” technology of its own, experimenting with lasers on the ground that could disable and destroy spacecraft.

[MadIvan]

Uh-oh.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[endthematrix]

"The White House reacted with alarm and anger last night after China successfully destroyed a satellite with a ballistic missile"

Democrats were elated.

[miliantnutcase]

thanks klinton!

[operation clinton cleanup]

In another 30 years, they may catch up to us.

Class: Military. Type: ASAT. Nation: USA. Manufacturer: Vought.

The ASAT (Air-Launched Anti-Satellite Missile) was designed and developed by Vought in response to a 1977 Air Force requirement for a small air-launched missile that was capable of intercepting and destroying enemy satellites in low earth orbit. The missile consists of a modified Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM) first stage, a Thiokol Altair III second stage, and a Vought miniature homing vehicle (MHV).

The ASAT was launched from an F-15 aircraft in a steep climb. At high altitudes, this gave the ASAT's rocket a useful initial velocity to allow it to reach its target in orbit. After the first stage separated, the second stage propelled the MHV into space on a collision course with the target. The MHV destroyed the target by ramming it at high speed. Initial flight test began in 1983.

The first successful test interception and destruction of a satellite in space occurred on September 13, 1985. The ASATwas 17 feet 9 1/2 inches long, 20 inches in diameter, and weighed about 2,600 lbs.

[madconserv]

And the doomsday clock creeps forward.

[DB]

What also may be a big problem is that when they destroyed the satellite it sent a cloud of metal pieces in numerous directions that will likely stay in orbit. That represents a danger to everything else in nearby orbits.

[rbosque]

Remember when the dems howeled about the "star wars" missile defense system Reagan proposed? Why aren't they screaming now?

[Bender2]

bump to read later

[snowsislander]

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile, the test knocked out an ageing Chinese weather satellite 537 miles above the Earth on January 11 through “kinetic impact”, or by slamming into it, Gordon Johndroe, President Bush’s national security spokesman, said.

The Chinese have certainly come a long ways since the days when we reckoned that their ballistic missiles had a circular error probability measured in miles for static targets.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Projections have the PRC surpassing the United States' economy for top place around 2050. With that economy, and its larger population (still estimated to be larger in 2050, even if only counting war-age people), the PRC would be able to easily match and supersede the American military.

[JennysCool]

In another 30 years, they may catch up to us.

Probably many more. I'm sure we've got stuff that makes this look like Estes rockets. We just don't show it off, is all.

[TChris]

With that economy, and its larger population (still estimated to be larger in 2050, even if only counting war-age people), the PRC would be able to easily match and supersede the American military.

There's a lot more to a successful military than money and men. Fundamental flaws in their communist government and culture will ensure they stay well behind.

One small example is that fighter pilots in communist countries aren't allowed to make their own decisions in a battle. They're entirely controlled by commanders on the ground. American pilots, on the other hand, are becoming even more independent, with vast arrays of information at their fingertips.

Until basic attitudes and beliefs are changed, the results won't change.

China's technological advances have always come by theft and/or treason. They are where they are today because of the Clinton administration. That's the bottom line.

China copies very well. They can't innovate for crap.

[yankeedame]

There's a lot more to a successful military than money and men. Fundamental flaws in their communist government and culture will ensure they stay well behind.

One small example is that fighter pilots in communist countries aren't allowed to make their own decisions in a battle. They're entirely controlled by commanders on the ground. American pilots, on the other hand, are becoming even more independent, with vast arrays of information at their fingertips.

Until basic attitudes and beliefs are changed, the results won't change.

China's technological advances have always come by theft and/or treason. They are where they are today because of the Clinton administration. That's the bottom line.

China copies very well. They can't innovate for crap.

Hear! Hear!

So far as we know China has always had the largest population and has never been a super power, or even in the first tier. (Oh, no it hasn't. Look at the 3K+ history of China. A few dozen bright sparks does not a blow torch make) China is a threat b/c it has so many people? So does India with its 300million English speaking, well educated, solidly middle class coming into its own. Where's the hand wringing over that?

[operation clinton cleanup]

It was before my time, but were they not making the same predictions about the USSR in the 60's and 70's?

[operation clinton cleanup]

Hey JC! Late night at the tables?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The PRC definitely did steal all of the technology being seen today. However, (opinion) advise to not "sell the Chinese short." Plenty of them are very intelligent and innovative; their extremely rapidly growing economy and political clout is testament to that.

The Soviet Union made many scientific and technological advances, not only those taken from German scientists (which the United States also did) and stolen from the United States. And the PRC shows more poise and talent for survival than the USSR.

[operation clinton cleanup]

This may or may not be related, but it cracks me up!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cicguTDA6wE

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Also before time. Doesn't seem that farfetched, though. However, the PRC is hardly Communist in the strict sense any more, especially when it comes to their economy. For most intents and purposes, they've merely replaced the emperor and the imperial court with the president (Hu Jintao) and the Communists.

[operation clinton cleanup]

The Chi-Coms have a lot of money to throw around. I suspect they bought some 1960's era Soviet ASAT. Their man in space program was also purchased from the Russkies. They can buy and steal all the technology available, but they don't seem to be able to do much with it.