Chinese missile test which knocked out a weather satellite

[CoombellKid]

Regarding Houghy recent post regarding US intentions in space
maybe closer than we thought. I wonder what they are thinking
about on this one. Sorry I would of posted there, but just cant
find the original thread.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21083711-5001028,00.html

regards,CS sunny days

[ving]

i'd like to know too... blowing up old weather sats seems like a fun past time but I wonder why they did it?
motive please :)

[CoombellKid]

Ving,

I dont think they sent an explosive, they took it out with kinetic impact at
a height of 865km. Still must have a few people worried.

regards,Cs sunny days

[ving]

well when i said "blowing up" i didnt actually mean KABOOM!
but they didnt just knock it out of orbit from what i am guessing.
rocket testing maybe?
range and accuracy?

[CoombellKid]

Apparently they just ploughed into it with a ballistic missile

Range and accuracy is probably on the money. Knowing how the chinese
like to gamble I would imagine there was a few dollars on the "hit or miss"

regards,CS sunny days

[acropolite]

More and finer space Junk, about as sensible as a kid breaking a glass bottle in a kindergarden. :tasdevil:

[danielsun]

Yes absolutely!!!
I can't believe they did not tell anyone what they were going to do, or especially not think about the possible consequences.

scientific stupidity at it's finest!!

[ispom]

I read about in:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.nl.html?id=1188 (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.nl.html?id=1188)

China performed a successful anti-satellite (asat) weapons test

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.

may we experience now a "Chinese SDI" ?

[AstroJunk]

Or a shrewd and calculated public display of military capability designed to remind a certain North American superpower with an agressive foreign policy that prehaps it shouldn't consider messing with the Red Army!

The choice is yours;)

[Ric]

Interesting piece on the early news this morning.
Basically the Chinese are not confirming or denying anything, but did say that they are commited to the peacefull use of space.

Hmmmmmm :whistle:

[CoombellKid]

There is more on the story here

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/asat.htm

looks like the chinese are rather partial at firing/testing thier laser
systems on satelites too. Trying to take out optical sensors, well
I suppose if someone is flying their eyes in the sky over you then
it's fair game. Lasers are good at doing that. I remember years ago
an idiot from one of the TV channels thought it would be a great
idea to film our lasers we had install at Sydney Mardi Gra. Completely
thrashed the chip in his $200k camera.

btw, they are great on speed and red light camera too

regards,CS


regards

[danielsun]

Maybe your right. After reading some of the reports it seems that they are showing their military capability, it's just a shame as from an astronomical view for space missions they are being a little careless.

[astro_nutt]

You'd think that by forewarning the rest of the world of your intentions.(possibly not obtaining approval)..that some countries have the "early launch detection system" that could mean a hostile missile launch..strange though..nothing was done even though the missile travelled 865 kms...I bet the guys in the ISS were sweating a bit!!!

[Dujon]

Putting space debris aside, then why not? They've proved to themselves that they can do it and, at the same time, announced it to the world. The satellite involved was after all their own.

No doubt various governments around the globe will tut-tut over the escapade but, really, what's the point - apart from trying in some esoteric way to keep space activities the province of the chosen few?

I suppose that the 'media' will make all sorts of comments/accusations and many an 'opinion piece' will appear. There was a comment in my morning paper indicating that Taiwan was 'concerned' about this development - so it's already started.

Yes, there are ramifications from this event but I doubt that China is going to attempt to nudge each and every satellite that over-flies their territory.

No, my name is not Neville Chamberlain.

[Starkler]

Zactly !

THe US can make noises and protests about this, but they have done exactly the same tests back in the 80's :whistle:

[CoombellKid]

But then again you could say the American aren't exactly using their
satelites in space for peaceful purposes, or they wouldn't have military
satelites. As for space junk I think one of the worst has to be the Russians
with their 38 neuclear powered variety, the ones currently responsible
for leaking radioactive water, which is heading our way 110,000 dropplets
larger than an orange are currently being tracked. And they are only halfway
through the process of de-commissioning them

regards,CS

[xelasnave]

An old saying I wonder if it is of Chinese origin??

"It is easier to ask for forgivness than it is to ask for permission"

AND from experience this is somewhat true.

It is an ill wind that blows no good. I see a new space race perhaps, the rules are getting scary and being drafted as we speak..read the latest mood in the US there is an alarming thing happening.. if you dont see it dont worry.
Space junk is a real worry but someone will get a big cleaning contract out of it so life goes on we hope.
alex

[CoombellKid]

Warning just recieved an email titled "Russian missle shot down Chinese
satellite" an .exe is attached. Keep a look out for it.

Gee even the hackers cant get it right

regards,CS

[mickoking]

Betcha thats given the Americans some cause for concern. At least actions like this may moderate the unilateralism from the Neo Coms in Washington. No arms race is good tho, particularly in space .

[Miaplacidus]

Shame about the debris, but if they shoot down Sky Channel it won't be all bad news.

[Shawn]

Weather Satelite, my elbow....theres a spin...

[merlin8r]

While the debris is rightly seen as wholly irresponsible, it should also be fair to argue that the Chinese are preparing themselves to remove a strategic imbalance with the United States, in the event of a future conflict.
Removing spy satellites is the most obvious target, but I would imagine the first targets would be the GPS sats. Without those, the US loses all of its precision weaponry.
The US relies on superior technology to fight its wars, where the Chinese have manpower. It has been rightly said that quantity has a quality of its own.
Of course I do not condone the actions of the Chinese, but the US cannot have it all its own way. This was the scary part of the old SDI or "Star Wars" program. You really don't want one side beginning to think that it can win a nuclear exchange.

Clear skies,
Shane

[ving]

i recieved 2 of these... dont open them people, they are most likely viruses!.
:mad2:

[glenc]

GENEVA: Russia has presented to the UN Conference on Disarmament a Russian-Chinese draft treaty banning weapons in space, an idea quickly rejected by the US.
Russia and China have pushed for years for a treaty to prevent an arms race in space.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said "weapons deployment in space by one state will inevitably result in a chain reaction. And this in turn is fraught with a new spiral in the arms race, both in space and on the Earth."
The White House responded by saying it opposed any treaty that sought "to prohibit or limit access to or use of space".
The New York Times
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/us-shoots-down-space-treaty/2008/02/13/1202760398649.html