Space shot diverts US eyes from rogue states

Telegraph ^ | 1/19/2007 | Con Coughlin

[Sandreckoner]

If China has succeeded in developing the technology to shoot down satellites, it will have achieved technical superiority over the US, which is still struggling to develop its interceptor missile technology.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

If China has succeeded in developing the technology to shoot down satellites, it will have achieved technical superiority over the US, which is still struggling to develop its interceptor missile technology.

someone tell me that this is BS

[Sandreckoner]

Unbelievable. This is the kind of ridiculously ignorant reporting (as well as that of the main Telegraph article which so casually claimed China was building an "aircraft carrier") that has people buying into literally any China-hype you can think of.

[Lancey Howard]

Seems to me our satellite-based particle beams would blow a missle out of the sky at the speed of light before it got close....

[jveritas]

It is total BS.

[Constantine XIII]

Reporters + Science = LOL

These guys are dumber than a bag of retarded hammers.

[FLOutdoorsman]

When they can fake a Moon landing, get back to me.

[Mr. Mojo]

This is the kind of ridiculously ignorant reporting

The title of the article was invented by the threadmeister.

[Mr. Mojo]

....and now it's fixed.

[Constantine XIII]

No kidding. We're building stealth destroyers.

With rail guns and lasers.

Someone needs to call China and let them know that the 20th century wants its technology back.

[Admin Moderator]

China has achieved technical superiority over the United States in space

Please don't write your own headlines.

[Alter Kaker]

Reporters + Science = LOL

Not all reporters, but British reporters in particular have never been accused of letting the truth get in the way of a good story. And it doesn't matter what their political bent is -- in many ways the conservative Times and Telegraph are as kooky and unreliable as the left-wing Guardian and Independent. And don't even mention the tabloids, the "newspapers" that people actually read...

[BunnySlippers]

[Night Hides Not]

Reporters + Science = LOL

Quick edit: Reporters + facts = LOL

Fixed it.

What do you call a reporter in the 21st century?

Answer: a novelist.

[Sandreckoner]

The title of the thread comes from the article itself. There was no invention involved.

[longshadow]

If China has succeeded in developing the technology to shoot down satellites, it will have achieved technical superiority over the US, which is still struggling to develop its interceptor missile technology.

someone tell me that this is BS

Suffice to say that those who really know probably can't say what they know; thus, whatever you read is by definition likely the product of ignorance.

[Sandreckoner]

I suppose I'm confused. I see articles posted all the time that use the headline to convey something from inside the article. Regardless, it seems like a silly quibble given that it's a line from the article itself.

[GonzoGOP]

The booster on their ASAT was the size of an ICBM. Heck anyone can take out a non-manuvering satellite with another orbital vehicle thrown up into space with a full size booster. The problem is that your ASAT now costs more than my satellite and due to the cost and time necessary to build the booster you couldn't take out more than a few satellites. Might provide an advantage if you want to blind me for a few days while they cause some mischief, but as a strategic weapon its useless. Besides the whole purpose of the DARPA plan for rapid response small boosters (Falcon I and Falcon V) is so that the US can put new satellites up faster they can knock them them down.

Now when they have an ASAT like the F15 launched one we developed 20 years ago let me know. Of course don't have an ASAT now because Clinton scrapped it so as not to be provocative. I guess the Chi-Coms aren't worried about being provocative.

[Regulator]

someone tell me that this is BS

It is.

But don't think they aren't moving quickly. With an economy turbocharged by massive U.S. consumption, they have plenty of money to pay their low wage engineers to work on this kind of thing.

[AZRepublican]

Uh, note that China struck one of their own satellites with a known position and velocity. Most modern spy sats can change position.