Flexing Muscle, China Destroys Satellite in Test

NYT ^ | January 19, 2007 | WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER

[Nachum]

China successfully carried out its first test of an antisatellite weapon last week, signaling its resolve to play a major role in military space activities and bringing expressions of concern from Washington and other capitals, the Bush administration said yesterday.

[Nachum]

Another legacy from the Klintons...

[kinoxi]

The media loves the fact that they hit their own satellite.

[Free ThinkerNY]

The DemonRats are the Benedict Arnolds of our time.

[ARE SOLE]

What were we doing with all our shuttle launches over the years Nachum? I think at least half the flights were black flights. hell the real reason we have a shuttle is for black flights.

I always hoped we were positioning some kinda Death Ray in geosynchronous orbit directly above Peking. Knock their junk down right after launch. That would be sweet.


Regards.

[Nachum]

One can hope. :)

[Kryptonite]

Arguably the biggest legacy. Time will tell.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Could they simply have intended to sabotage that orbit with wreckage?

[A6M3]

The Chinese used their famed "Bent Dong 5" missile to deliver the fatal blow. The missile was named after an American President who supplied the guidance system.

[Pontiac]

The Bush administration has conducted research that critics say could produce a powerful ground-based laser weapon that would be used against enemy satellites.

I would think an aircraft based laser would have many advantages over a ground based laser.

It would not need to be as powerful because it wound not need to fire through as much of the atmosphere, it would be mobile and therefore more difficult for an enemy to destroy, the flexible mirror technology may not need to be as sophisticated because most of the atmospheric turbulence is closer to the ground.

[staytrue]

hell the real reason we have a shuttle is for black flights.

Originally, the shuttle was for civilian use. Then the military wanted it too and that is when the payload, size and cost overruns, doubled and tripled in price.

[tomcorn]

Think this is a form of " communications". The Strategic Ballistic Missile Defense communicates to the Chinese " Don't build an expensive missile system because it will be useless because we an shoot them down. The Chinese response is " We will build the capability to destroy the satellites upon which the SBMD relies.

The solution?.....I dunno, But it is gonna be expensive.