Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

China's potential anti-satellite test sparks big concerns in US
msn ^ | updated 1/9/2013 2:33:43 PM ET 2013-01-09T19:33:43 | Leonard David

Posted on 01/14/2013 7:44:12 AM PST by BenLurkin

.... for several months, rumors have been circulating within the United States defense and intelligence communities that a Chinese anti-satellite test is imminent. It might be conducted on Jan. 11, the date on which China performed ASAT operations in both 2007 and 2010.

“Our hope is that getting this out in the open can facilitate a meaningful bilateral dialogue on space security, or, at the very least, get the Obama administration to explain why it refuses to talk to the Chinese about their plans to test,” Kulacki told Space.com.

If indeed a China ASAT test is on the horizon, what about potential U.S. reaction? Space.com asked several experts to comment on this prospect:

What type of target? “The condemnation that accompanied China’s first ASAT test was more because of the debris it created, not because it was an ASAT test. The second ‘ASAT test’ hardly sparked a ripple,” said Marcia Smith, a respected space policy analyst and editor of SpacePolicyOnline.com. [10 Most Destructive Space Weapon Concepts]

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoices Advertise | AdChoices .“I think the reaction to the next one, whenever it is, will depend on what type of target (low-Earth orbit, medium-Earth orbit — e.g. Global Positioning System satellites) it threatens and whether it is conducted to avoid creating long-lived debris,” Smith said.

This all assumes that, if it is targeted against a satellite, it is one of China’s own satellites,” Smith said. “If there is any inkling that it is aimed at another country’s satellite … that, of course, would be an entirely different matter.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:

"A new Chinese anti-satellite (ASAT) test could showcase an ability to reach medium-Earth orbit. Doing so, some analysts say, would underscore that country’s ability to place the constellation of U.S. Global Positioning System navigational satellites at risk, but also a similar Chinese system."Gregory Kulacki / AGI
1 posted on 01/14/2013 7:44:13 AM PST by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]


"Known orbit planes of Fengyun-1C debris one month after its 2007 disintegration by a Chinese anti-satellite (ASAT) interceptor. The white orbit represents the International Space Station."NASA Orbital Debris Program Office
2 posted on 01/14/2013 7:45:59 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

““Our hope is that getting this out in the open can facilitate a meaningful bilateral dialogue on space security...”

Alert, alert...totally b*ll-less, wimpolid, libtard speech pattern here.

Translation: “Go ahead and do it because we are so limp wristed that we couldn’t even clean our own fingernails.”


3 posted on 01/14/2013 7:48:45 AM PST by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
I hope the debris field will not effect any possible orbital parking spaces. What we really need is a space junk vacuum cleaner.
4 posted on 01/14/2013 8:20:45 AM PST by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote

yep. the enemy f@rt in the direction of

‘open a meaningful dialogue’


5 posted on 01/14/2013 8:33:40 AM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 2001convSVT

6 posted on 01/15/2013 10:07:25 AM PST by UCANSEE2 ( If you think I'm crazy, just wait until you talk to my invisible friend.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson