Posted on 02/21/2008 9:30:23 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
China irate as US shoots down satellite
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Honolulu
Published: February 21 2008 18:28 | Last updated: February 22 2008 00:21
The US navy destroyed a decaying spy satellite that was falling to earth with potentially hazardous fuel on Thursday, prompting accusations of double standards from China.
On Wednesday afternoon in the northwest Pacific, an Aegis warship fired a missile that intercepted the satellite 247km up in space. The USS Lake Erie launched the missile shortly after Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, arrived in Hawaii en route to Australia.
Mr Gates said the operation appeared to be “very successful”. The navy was attempting both to hit the satellite before it entered the atmosphere and to destroy the fuel tank, which the Pentagon said posed a hazard to humans.
General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the military had “a high degree of confidence that we got the tank” but cautioned that it would take another two days to make a final confirmation.
Earlier, a Chinese Communist party newspaper had accused the US of double standards. Washington criticised other nations for their space ambitions, while itself trying to win a military advantage in space, the overseas edition of the People’s Daily newspaper said.
Mr Gates stressed that there had been “complete transparency” surrounding the US operation. China has asked the US to proviide data about the operation. Mr Gates said the US was prepared to share where “appropriate”.
The national reconnaissance agency launched the spy satellite in December 2006. But the military lost control of it shortly after it reached orbit, when the onboard communications systems went dead. Last month the US informed other countries that the decaying satellite was falling to earth. President George W. Bush ordered the destruction of the satellite, which was carrying a toxic fuel called hydrazine.
The Pentagon has rejected suggestions it was using the failed satellite as a pretext to conduct an anti-satellite weapons test. Last year the US criticised China for conducting an anti-satellite test, destroying an ageing weather satellite in space without providing advance notice. Both tests created debris in space, which experts warned could pose a threat to other satellites.
On Wednesday night in Hawaii, Admiral Timothy Keating, the head of US Pacific command, said the US had acted responsibly by informing other countries in advance. Speaking shortly before the navy took the shot, he added that “no one has expressed concern”.
Gen Cartwright said debris from the destroyed satellite had started falling into the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Pentagon on Wednesday said all the debris would re-enter the atmosphere within the next 40 days. Gen Cartwright played down suggestions the US had destroyed the satellite partly to stop other countries obtaining sensitive information about its spy satellites.
Ike Skelton, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives armed services committee, welcomed the successful strike but stressed that it was an “exceptional case”.
“We abandoned the pursuit of anti-satellite technology two decades ago due to concerns about the consequences of its use, and our country has no plans to renew those efforts,” he said.
We shot down our own satellite, right? What business is it of theirs?!?!?!
OK
Now I understand why the US left is getting all upset over the shooting down of this satellite.
(because the communists oppose it too)
I don’t have that translation, but Here are some other common ones...
1) That’s not right...................... Sum Ting Wong
2) Are you harboring a fugitive?............. Hu Yu Hai Ding
3) See me ASAP................................ Kum Hia Nao
4) Stupid Man.............................. Dum Fuk
5) Small Horse.............................. Tai Ni Po Ni
6) Did you go to the beach? ................ Wai Yu So Tan
7) I bumped into a coffee table.......... Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni
8) I think you need a face lift............ Chin Tu Fat
9) Its very dark in here................... Wao So Dim
10) I thought you were on a diet............ Wai Yu Mun Ching
11) This is a tow away zone................. No Pah King
12) Our meeting is scheduled for next week ... Wai Yu Kum Nao
13) Staying out of sight.................... Lei Ying Lo
14) He’s cleaning his automobile............ Wa Shing Ka
15) Your body odor is offensive............. Yu Stin Ki Pu
16) Great................................. Fa Kin Su Pah
They laughed and laughed.. (NY Times)...
Actually it would have been easier to do it from space than from a guided missle cruiser..
They laughed and laughed.. (NY Times)...
Actually it would have been easier to do it from space than from a guided missle cruiser..
Not sure we demonstrated that?
We knew exactly the orbit of the target.
We had a nine day window.
Nice shot but it is what it is.
The same as was our business when they shot down theirs.
We know the orbit of all satellites, ours and everybody else’s - they are mapped. How do you think any country manages to insert new satellites without interfering with existing satellites ?
We took out the satellite first shot - I don’t care what the length of the window was.
It is what it is - a damned fine display of technological know-how.
There is a lot more to that guy than most know. Word has it that he was a Area 51 local.
Hey, China...I hear the WHAAAAAAMBULANCE coming...
ALL YOUR SATELLITES ARE BELONG TO US!
So he deployed all those ultimate flying saucers?:-)
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