China downs satellite with ballistic missile

Ireland Online ^ | 18/01/2007 - 16:38:34 | Thomas Crosbie Media,

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The US criticised China today for conducting an anti-satellite weapons test in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a ballistic missile.

“The US believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area,” National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. “We and other countries have expressed our concern to the Chinese.”

US intelligence agencies believe China conducted the test on January 11.

[RightWhale]

That was not a ballistic missile.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Worrying time....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Another report:

'Star Wars' missile test heralds new arms race in space

*********************AN EXCERPT *****************************

World News

The Times

January 19, 2007

'Star Wars' missile test heralds new arms race in space

Tim Reid in Washington

• China destroys weather satellite
• First test by any nation in 20 years

The White House reacted with alarm and anger last night after China successfully destroyed a satellite with a ballistic missile, the first space test of such offensive military technology by any nation in over 20 years.

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile, the test knocked out an ageing Chinese weather satellite 537 miles above the earth on January 11 through “kinetic impact,” or by slamming into it, Gordon Johndroe, President Bush’s national security spokesman, said.

The test comes amid increasing fears within the Bush Administration over the ambition of potentially hostile nations and terrorist groups to acquire technology to destroy crucial US space systems on which the country — and particularly its military — heavily depends. It will inevitably stoke fears in Washington of a potentially new and dangerous era of space war.

The last US anti-satellite test took place in 1985. But Washington then halted such Cold War-era testing, concerned by debris that could harm civilian and military satellite operations on which the West increasingly relies for everything from guiding war planes to internet access.

“The US believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of co-operation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area,” Mr Johndroe said. “We and other countries have expressed our concern regarding this action to the Chinese.”

Washington’s concerns over the threat to its satellites as China launches its own “Star Wars” programme triggered an aggressive revision of its national space policy in October that asserted America’s right to deny space access to anyone hostile to US interests.

[Marine_Uncle]

Frigen L/MSM can't understand the simplist basics let alone speak with some element of intellegence on slightly technical matters. Dopes.

[Luigi Vasellini]

Hey the Chicoms donated millions to the sink emperor Clinton for this. Clinton legacy coming to fruition!!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And the NY Times:

China Tests Anti-Satellite Weapon, Unnerving U.S.

[cartan]

That was not a ballistic missile.

Perhaps those Chinese scientists have read too much Jules Verne…

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #7 for the NY Times headline.

[AZRepublican]

More damn space debris for the shuttle to watch out for.

[Vigilanteman]

Slap a duty on all Chinese imports equal to the cost of R&D necessary to counter this action.

[dforest]

Thank Bubba and being blackmailed because of Monica.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

And a big Red China heartfelt, Thank You, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton! You too, Loral engineers and Bernie Schwartz! the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, all of you! Thank you, thank you.

[NormsRevenge]

That was not a ballistic missile.


--

rail gun? pretty good distance to hit a target.

[Frohickey]

Looks like its back to Earth-based communications for military units. Better put some good encryption on that, so that the ChiComs won't be able to eavesdrop on the attack plans that will take them out.

[RightWhale]

Katyuska is ballistic once past the boost phase. Scud, early versions, is ballistic once past the boost phase. Kinetic kill missiles fly active all the way in.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BBC says it was...

US Condems China 'Space Weapon'

Actually the BBC report has this statement:

The Americans say the Chinese sent up a ballistic missile to destroy an ageing weather satellite.

[Freeport]

A ballistic missile is just that; it goes up, it comes down like a cannon ball.

The correct term is interceptor.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

In the statement at post #4 also:

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile

[in the Arena]

More damn space debris for the shuttle to watch out for.

I was thinking the same thing. Instead of one target to track (among 8000 or so) there's probably thousands more.