Anyone out there? Raise your hand.
Posted on 01/23/2007 12:07:39 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -
China has sent men into orbit and launched dozens of satellites, but its test of a satellite-killing weapon is shaking up perceptions about where the Chinese space program is headed.
The test, confirmed by Beijing on Tuesday after nearly a two-week silence, has drawn criticism from the U.S. and Japan, and touched off fears of an arms race in space.
The Chinese test "was an overtly military, very provocative event that cannot be spun any other way," said Rob Hewson, the London-based editor of Jane's Air-Launched Weapons. "So a bald assessment of that is that it's a big fat challenge."
The test is a shot across the bow of U.S. efforts to remain predominant in space and on the ground, where its military is heavily dependent on networks of satellites, particularly the low-altitude imaging intelligence models that help it find and hit targets. Japan, also seen as a regional rival, is similarly vulnerable, while any potential conflicts in space would put much of the industrialized world's economies at risk, given that satellites are used to relay phone calls and data and to map weather systems.
The Jan. 11 test, first reported last week by the magazine Aviation Week, destroyed a defunct Chinese weather satellite by hitting it with a warhead launched on board a ballistic missile. That made China only the third country after Russia and the U.S. to shoot down anything in space.
Before that, China's military and its space program were largely seen as capable, but lagging in innovation. Still, its unclear what message China intended to send, underscoring the opacity of China's space and military programs and deepening suspicion over its avowed commitment to the purely peaceful use of space.
Beijing has repeatedly pledged peaceful development of its army - the world's largest - but has caused unease among its neighbors by announcing double-digit military spending increases nearly every year since the early 1990s.
The anti-satellite test threatens to "undermine relationships and fuel military tensions between space-faring nations," David Wright, of the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said in a statement posted on the group's Web site that was typical of criticisms from the U.S. scientific community.
On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said it acknowledged holding the test to the U.S., Japan and other countries, but insisted it opposed any arms race in space. Both Washington and Tokyo have criticized the test as undermining efforts to keep weapons out of space.
In Washington, the Defense Department and President Bush's National Security Council declined to comment Tuesday.
However, while China's act looked aggressive, some U.S. officials were skeptical that Beijing would do anything to attack the satellites of the United States or Japan - key trading partners. According to the CIA World Fact Book, China sold more to the United States in 2005 than any other nation - 21.4 percent of its exports. Hong Kong was second, with 16.3 percent, and Japan was third with 11 percent.
China has released no details publicly, although Aviation Week said the missile lifted off from or near the Xichang base in southwest China, the country's main commercial satellite launch center. The military's missile corps, the 2nd Artillery, likely took part in the launch as well.
Knocking out U.S. military satellites would be a priority in any regional war against the U.S. or Japan, either over Taiwan or other territorial claims, or to keep its sea lanes open for deliveries of oil and gas.
One immediate casualty of the test could be budding ties between the Chinese and the U.S. and European space programs, experts said. NASA's chief administrator Michael Griffin visited China last year to discuss cooperation projects, and China has partnered with the European Space Agency on the Galileo navigation satellite network to compete with the U.S. Global Positioning System.
Now the test "will make it very difficult for the U.S. to talk about space cooperation with China any time soon," said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a defense, security and space intelligence consultancy based in Alexandria, Va.
Some say China isn't the only one rushing to acquire military capabilities in space.
President Bush signed an order in October tacitly asserting the U.S. right to space weapons and opposing the development of treaties or other measures restricting them - a move some analysts speculated may have helped spur the Chinese test.
Bush has also pushed an ambitious program of space-based missile defense and the Pentagon is working on missiles, ground lasers and other technology to shoot down satellites.
However, the Pentagon's budget is severely constrained by Iraq and Afghanistan and a drive to replace outdated planes and ships, making space programs a lower priority and prompting some to warn the U.S. could be losing ground in space.
"We are falling behind, if not losing, on many measures of space superiority," Defense Department contractor Stephen Hill said Monday at a forum in Washington.
China's promotion of anti-satellite weapons is underpinned by its doctrine of "asymmetric warfare" that envisions defeating the U.S. or another powerful foe by knocking away key capabilities rather than through frontal assault.
Anti-satellite weapons development has likely benefited from the increasing attention garnered by China's space program, which entered a new era with its first manned space flight in 2003.
A second mission in 2005 put two astronauts, or "yuhangyuan," into orbit for a week and a third manned launch is planned for next year. This year, China plans to put into space a lunar probe which will orbit the moon at an altitude of 125 miles.
Despite the successes, China's space program had been seen as lacking in innovation, overly cautious and, perhaps most importantly, non-threatening to Washington. That evaluation may now have to change.
"You could argue that China is getting ready to do a lot of things that the U.S. is now losing the ability to do," Hewson said. "So that in itself is a challenge to the U.S."
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Perhaps it will be Hillary - she is vociferous enough.
Meanwhile, the USA has the farthest and fastest man-made objects in the universe and is still launching metal into the sky.
Not to mention that the Chicoms have payloaded a lot of their useful equipment on commercial CAPITALIST launch services worldwide.
So I think it's fair to spam this thread (something I wouldn't normally do) to get some balance with where we are and where they are.
Look at the Japanese. Remember when they were supposed to clobber us in the 80s? Back when "GLOBAL COOLING" was all the rage.
Now the Japanese have made some major steps forward, and their engineering excellence is faaar superior to the Chicoms ----and---- yet the Japanese have seen far more upfront with American defense tools, help, etc, than B. Schwarz could have ever given the Chicoms. They've got all sorts of USAF and USN assets---cutting edge tech.
And the Chinese are no where near getting caught up to the Japanese, even, much less the USA.
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 14 November 2006
Objects in distant Earth orbits (includes objects with semimajor axes greater than half that of the Moon) INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (km) notes 1964-041B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 7/28/64 7/28/64 1965-010B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 2/17/65 2/17/65 1965-064A USA SURVEYOR MODEL 1 8/11/65 8/11/65 1966-006D USSR SL-6 R/B(2) 1/31/66 1/31/66 1966-027E USSR SL-6 DEBRIS 3/31/66 3/31/66 1966-027F USSR SL-6 DEBRIS 3/31/66 3/31/66 1966-045B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 5/30/66 5/30/66 1966-058A USA EXPLORER 33 (IMP-D) 7/ 1/66 7/ 1/66 24.1 265680 x 480763 data to 9/21/71 1966-058C USA DELTA 1 R/B(2) 7/ 1/66 7/ 1/66 1966-084B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 9/20/66 9/20/66 1966-095B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 10/26/66 10/26/66 1967-035B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 4/17/67 4/17/67 1967-084B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 9/ 8/67 9/ 8/67 1967-112B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 11/ 7/67 11/ 7/67 1968-001B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B 1/ 7/68 1/ 7/68 1969-099 USA SATURN V R/B (J002E3) 11/14/69 3/ /02 25 280000 x 840000 1973-078A USA EXPLORER 50 (IMP-8) 10/26/73 10/26/73 31.6 190749 x 244361 data to 10/28/01 1992-044A Japan GEOTAIL 7/24/92 7/24/92 18.0 57448 x 399940 data past 6/11/02 1992-044C USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 7/24/92 7/24/92 28.7 184 x 360210 1994-071C USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 11/ 1/94 11/ 1/94 28.8 187 x 470309 1998-041C Japan M-5 R/B(2) 7/ 3/98 7/ 3/98 23.9 1917 x 592196 2006-047A USA STEREO-A 10/26/06 10/26/06 28.5 182 x 403810 2006-048B USA STEREO-B 10/26/06 10/26/06 28.5 182 x 403810 2006-048 USA STAR 48B R/B 10/26/06 10/26/06 28.5 182 x 403810 2006-048 USA STAR 48B R/B DESPIN WT 1 10/26/06 10/26/06 28.5 182 x 403810 2006-048 USA STAR 48B R/B DESPIN WT 2 10/26/06 10/26/06 28.5 182 x 403810 Objects orbiting the Moon INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (km) notes 1966-027A USSR LUNA 10 3/31/66 4/ 3/66 72.03 378 x 985 data to 5/30/66 1966-078A USSR LUNA 11 8/24/66 8/27/66 27 163.5 x 1193.6 data to 10/1/66 1966-094A USSR LUNA 12 10/22/66 10/25/66 10 133 x 1200 data to 1/19/67 1967-070A USA EXPLORER 35 (AIMP-E) 7/19/67 7/21/67 147 800 x 7692 1967-070A USA EXPLORER 35 RETROMOTOR 7/19/67 7/21/67 147 800 x 7692 1968-027A USSR LUNA 14 4/ 7/68 4/10/68 42 160 x 870 data to 4/68 1971-063D USA APOLLO 15 (IRW PL) 7/26/71 8/ 4/71 28.5 102 x 139 data to 2/3/72 1971-073B USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 9/ 2/71 1971-082A USSR LUNA 19 9/28/71 10/ 3/71 40.6 77 x 385 data to 10/72 1971-082C USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 9/28/71 1972-007B USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 2/14/72 1973-039A USA EXPLORER 49 (RAE-2) 6/10/73 6/15/73 38.7 1053 x 1063 data to 8/77 1973-039F USA EXPLORER 49 DEBRIS 6/10/73 6/15/73 38.7 1053 x 1063 1973-039G USA EXPLORER 49 DEBRIS 6/10/73 6/15/73 1974-037A USSR LUNA 22 5/29/74 6/ 2/74 21 100 x 1286 data to 11/75 1990-007B Japan HAGOROMO 1/24/90 3/19/90 39 2300 x 49000 data to 3/19/90 Objects orbiting the Sun INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (AU) notes 1959-012A USSR LUNA 1 1/ 2/59 1/ 2/59 0.01 0.9876 x 1.318 data to 1/5/59 1959-012 USSR BLOK-E R/B 1/ 2/59 1/ 2/59 0.01 0.98 x 1.32 1959-013A USA PIONEER 4 3/ 3/59 3/ 3/59 0.13 0.9871 x 1.142 1959-013 USA BABY SERGEANT R/B 3/ 3/59 3/ 3/59 1.3 0.99 x 1.44 1960-001A USA PIONEER 5 3/11/60 3/11/60 3.35 0.8061 x 0.9951 data to 6/26/60 1960-001 USA ALTAIR I R/B 3/11/60 3/11/60 3.3 0.81 x 0.99 1961-003A USSR VENERA 1 2/12/61 2/12/61 0.58 0.718 x 1.019 data to 2/27/61 1961-003 USSR BLOK-L R/B 2/12/61 2/12/61 0.6 0.72 x 1.00 1962-001A USA RANGER 3 1/26/62 1/26/62 0.4 0.9839 x 1.163 1962-001B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 6003 1/26/62 1/26/62 0.4 0.99 x 1.16 1962-012B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 6004 4/23/62 4/23/62 1962-041A USA MARINER 2 (VENUS) 8/27/62 8/27/62 1.4 0.705 x 1.227 data to 1/3/63 1962-041B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 6902 8/27/62 8/27/62 1962-055A USA RANGER 5 10/18/62 10/18/62 0.43 0.965 x 1.084 data to 10/20/62? 1962-055B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 6005 10/18/62 10/18/62 1962-061C USSR MARS 1 11/ 1/62 11/ 1/62 2.68 0.924 x 1.604 data to 3/21/63 1962-061 USSR BLOK-L R/B 11/ 1/62 11/ 1/62 1963-008B USSR LUNA 4 4/ 2/63 4/ 2/63 1964-016D USSR ZOND 1 4/ 2/64 4/ 2/64 3.7 0.652 x 1.001 data to 5/64 1964-016 USSR BLOK-L R/B 4/ 2/64 4/ 2/64 1964-073A USA MARINER 3 (MARS) 11/ 5/64 11/ 5/64 0.52 0.983 x 1.311 data to 11/6/64 1964-073 USA ATLAS AGENA D R/B 6931 11/ 5/64 11/ 5/64 0.52 0.983 x 1.311 1964-077A USA MARINER 4 (MARS) 11/28/64 11/28/64 2.5 1.107 x 1.561 data to 12/21/67 1964-077B USA ATLAS AGENA D R/B 6932 11/28/64 11/28/64 0.15 0.990 x 1.429 1964-078C USSR ZOND 2 11/30/64 11/30/64 6.4 0.98 x 1.52 data to 4/65 1964-078 USSR BLOK-L R/B 11/30/64 11/30/64 1965-023B USA ATLAS AGENA B R/B 6007 3/21/65 3/21/65 1965-044A USSR LUNA 6 6/ 8/65 6/ 8/65 1965-044 USSR BLOK-L R/B 6/ 8/65 6/ 8/65 1965-056A USSR ZOND 3 7/18/65 7/18/65 0.25 0.90 x 1.56 data to 3/66 1965-056 USSR BLOK-L R/B 7/18/65 7/18/65 1965-091A USSR VENERA 2 11/12/65 11/12/65 4.29 0.716 x 1.197 data to 2/66 1965-091 USSR BLOK-L R/B 11/12/65 11/12/65 1965-092D USSR SL-6 R/B(2) 11/16/65 11/16/65 1965-105A USA PIONEER 6 12/16/65 12/16/65 0.17 0.814 x 0.985 data to 12/8/00 1965-105 USA ALTAIR II R/B 12/16/65 12/16/65 1966-027D USSR SL-6 R/B(2) 3/31/66 3/31/66 1966-075A USA PIONEER 7 8/17/66 8/17/66 0.10 1.012 x 1.125 data to 3/95 1966-075C USA DELTA 1 R/B(2) 8/17/66 8/17/66 1967-058 USSR BLOK-L R/B 6/12/67 6/12/67 1967-060A USA MARINER 5 (VENUS) 6/14/67 6/14/67 1.37 0.579 x 0.735 data to 10/14/68 1967-060B USA ATLAS AGENA D R/B 6933 6/14/67 6/14/67 1967-070C USA FW-4D R/B 7/19/67 7/19/67 0.5 0.99 x 1.02 1967-123A USA PIONEER 8 12/13/67 12/13/67 0.1 0.990 x 1.087 data to 8/22/96 1967-123 USA FW-4D R/B 12/13/67 12/13/67 1968-013A USSR ZOND 4 3/ 2/68 3/ 2/68 1968-100A USA PIONEER 9 11/ 8/68 11/ 8/68 0.09 0.756 x 0.990 data to 5/18/83 1968-100 USA FW-4D R/B 11/ 8/68 11/ 8/68 1968-118B USA SATURN V R/B 503N 12/21/68 12/21/68 0.5 0.923 x 0.988 1969-001 USSR BLOK-L R/B 1/ 5/69 1/ 5/69 1969-002 USSR BLOK-L R/B 1/10/69 1/10/69 1969-014A USA MARINER 6 (MARS) 2/25/69 2/25/69 1.8 1.142 x 1.754 data to 7/31/69? 1969-014B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-20 2/25/69 2/25/69 2.1 0.970 x 1.593 1969-018B USA SATURN V R/B 504N 3/ 3/69 3/ 3/69 0.5 0.546 x 0.991 1969-030A USA MARINER 7 (MARS) 3/27/69 3/27/69 1.8 1.118 x 1.670 data to 8/5/69? 1969-030B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-19 3/27/69 3/27/69 1.7 0.991 x 1.637 1969-043B USA SATURN V R/B 505N 5/18/69 5/18/69 0.5 0.908 x 1.017 1969-043D USA APOLLO 10 LM (APS) 5/18/69 5/23/69 data to 5/24/69 1969-059B USA SATURN V R/B 506 7/16/69 7/16/69 0.5 0.891 x 1.016 1970-029A USA APOLLO 13 CM BAY 4 PANEL 4/11/70 4/13/70 1970-029A USA APOLLO 13 CM DEBRIS 4/11/70 4/13/70 1970-060 USSR BLOK-L R/B 8/17/70 8/17/70 2 0.7 x 1.0 1971-045 USSR BLOK-D R/B 5/19/71 5/19/71 2 1.0 x 1.5 1971-049 USSR BLOK-D R/B 5/28/71 5/28/71 2 1.0 x 1.5 1971-051B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-23 5/30/71 5/30/71 2 0.99 x 1.57 1972-012B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B(2) 3/ 3/72 3/ 3/72 1.3 0.99 x 5.86 1972-021 USSR BLOK-L R/B 3/27/72 3/27/72 2 0.7 x 1.0 1973-019B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B(2) 4/ 6/73 4/ 6/73 1.3 1.00 x 6.01 1973-047A USSR MARS 4 7/21/73 7/21/73 2.2 1.02 x 1.63 data past 2/74 1973-047 USSR BLOK-D R/B 7/21/73 7/21/73 2.2 1.0 x 1.6 1973-049 USSR BLOK-D R/B 7/25/73 7/25/73 2.2 1.0 x 1.6 1973-052A USSR MARS 6 8/ 5/73 8/ 5/73 2.2 1.01 x 1.67 1973-052 USSR BLOK-D R/B 8/ 5/73 8/ 5/73 2.2 1.0 x 1.6 1973-053A USSR MARS 7 8/ 9/73 8/ 9/73 2.2 1.01 x 1.69 1973-053 USSR BLOK-D R/B 8/ 9/73 8/ 9/73 2.2 1.0 x 1.6 1973-053D USSR MARS 7 DESCENT CRAFT 8/ 9/73 3/ 9/74 2.2 1.01 x 1.69 1973-085A USA MARINER 10 (MVM-73) 11/ 3/73 11/ 3/73 0.47 x 0.76 data to 3/24/75 1973-085B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-34 11/ 3/73 11/ 3/73 2.6 0.70 x 1.11 1974-097A FRG HELIOS 1 12/10/74 12/10/74 0.0 0.309 x 0.985 1974-097C FRG ATLAS CENTAUR R/B TC-2 12/10/74 12/10/74 0.02 0.981 x 1.590 1974-097D FRG HELIOS 1 DEBRIS 12/10/74 12/10/74 0.0 0.307 x 0.985 1975-050 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 6/ 8/74 6/ 8/74 2 0.7 x 1.0 1975-054 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 6/14/74 6/14/74 2 0.7 x 1.0 1975-075B USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B TC-4 8/20/75 8/20/75 4 1.0 x 1.6 1975-083B USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B TC-3 9/ 9/75 9/ 9/75 3 1.0 x 1.6 1976-003A FRG HELIOS 2 1/15/76 1/15/76 0.0 0.280 x 0.995 1976-003B USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B TC-5 1/15/76 1/15/76 1.5 0.888 x 1.086 1976-003C USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B(2) 1/15/76 1/15/76 0.0 0.280 x 0.995 1977-076B USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B TC-7 8/20/77 8/20/77 1977-076C USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B(2) 8/20/77 8/20/77 4.8 1.00 x 6.26 1977-084B USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B TC-6 9/ 5/77 9/ 5/77 1977-084C USA TITAN 3E CENTAUR R/B(2) 9/ 5/77 9/ 5/77 1.0 1.00 x 8.9 1978-051B USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-50 5/20/78 5/20/78 2 0.7 x 1.3 1978-078C USA ATLAS CENTAUR R/B AC-51 8/ 8/78 8/ 8/78 2 0.7 x 1.1 1978-079A USA ICE (ISEE 3) 8/12/78 8/12/78 0.1 0.926 x 1.033 data to 5/97 1978-079D USA STAR 37E R/B 8/12/78 8/12/78 0.99 x 1.00 1978-084A USSR VENERA 11 BUS 9/ 9/78 9/ 9/78 2 0.712 x 1.078 data to 2/80 1978-084 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 9/ 9/78 9/ 9/78 2 0.7 x 1.1 1978-086A USSR VENERA 12 BUS 9/14/78 9/14/78 0.725 x 1.192 data to 4/80 1978-086 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 9/14/78 9/14/78 2 0.7 x 1.0 1981-106A USSR VENERA 13 BUS 10/30/81 10/30/81 5 0.715 x 1.123 data to 11/82 1981-106 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 10/30/81 10/30/81 2 0.7 x 1.0 1981-110A USSR VENERA 14 BUS 11/ 4/81 11/ 4/81 2.3 0.71 x 0.99 data to 11/82 1981-110 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 11/ 4/81 11/ 4/81 2 0.7 x 1.0 1983-53 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 6/ 2/83 6/ 2/83 2 0.7 x 1.0 1983-54 USSR BLOK-DM R/B 6/ 7/83 6/ 7/83 2 0.7 x 1.0 1984-125A USSR VEGA 1 BUS 12/15/84 12/15/84 1984-125D USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 12/15/84 12/15/84 2 0.7 x 1.0 1984-128A USSR VEGA 2 BUS 12/21/84 12/21/84 1984-128B USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 12/21/84 12/21/84 2 0.7 x 1.0 1985-001A Japan SAKIGAKE 1/ 7/85 1/ 7/85 0.07 0.916 x 1.154 data to 1/7/99 1985-001B Japan M-3S2 R/B(1) 1/ 7/85 1/ 7/85 1.44 0.817 x 1.014 1985-056A ESA GIOTTO 7/ 2/85 1/ 7/85 23.91 0.994 x 1.165 data to 7/23/92 1985-073A Japan SUISEI (PLANET-A) 8/18/85 1/ 7/85 0.89 0.6718 x 1.0122 data to 2/22/91 1985-073C Japan M-3S2 R/B(2) 8/18/85 1/ 7/85 0.89 0.679 x 1.013 1988-058A USSR PHOBOS 1 7/ 7/88 7/ 7/88 2.97 0.90 x 1.77 data to 9/2/88 1988-058B USSR SL-12 R/B 7/ 7/88 7/ 7/88 1988-059B USSR SL-12 R/B(2) 7/12/88 7/12/88 1989-033D USA IUS-18 SRM-2 R/B 5/ 4/89 5/ 4/89 0.65 0.70 x 1.01 1989-084D USA IUS-19 SRM-2 R/B 10/18/89 10/18/89 4.3 0.668 x 1.000 1990-090B USA ULYSSES 10/ 6/90 10/ 6/90 79.1 1.34 x 5.41 data past 5/27/06 1990-090D USA IUS-17 SRM-2 R/B 10/ 6/90 10/ 6/90 2.0 0.994 x 15.99 1990-090E USA PAM-S R/B 10/ 6/90 10/ 6/90 2.0 0.994 x 15.99 1992-063A USA MARS OBSERVER 9/25/92 9/25/92 6.7 1.131 x 1.609 data to 8/22/93 1992-063C USA TOS R/B 9/25/92 9/25/92 1994-004A USA CLEMENTINE 1 (DSPSE) 1/25/94 5/ 3/94 1994-071A USA WIND 11/ 1/94 0.047 0.992 x 1.028 data past 1/28/05 1995-065A ESA SOHO 12/ 2/95 12/ 2/95 0 0.99 x 1.0 data past 5/27/06 1995-065B USA ATLAS 2AS CENTAUR R/B 12/ 2/95 12/ 2/95 1996-008C USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 2/17/96 1996-062C USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 11/ 7/96 1996-068C USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 12/ 4/96 1997-061B USA TITAN 4B CENTAUR R/B 10/15/97 1998-041A Japan NOZOMI (PLANET-B) 7/ 3/98 7/ 3/98 3 0.976 x 1.444 1998-061A USA DEEP SPACE 1 10/24/98 10/24/98 0.22 1.30 x 1.44 data to 12/18/01 1998-061D USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 10/24/98 10/24/98 1998-073C USA DELTA R/B(2) 12/11/98 12/11/98 1998-073 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 12/11/98 12/11/98 1998-073 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 12/11/98 12/11/98 1999-001B USA DELTA 2 R/B(2) 1/ 3/99 1/ 3/99 1999-001 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 1/ 3/99 1/ 3/99 1999-001 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 1/ 3/99 1/ 3/99 1999-003A USA STARDUST BUS 2/ 7/99 2/ 7/99 1.9 0.92 x 1.70 data past 1/15/06 1999-003C USA DELTA R/B(2) 2/ 7/99 2/ 7/99 1999-003 USA R/B DESPIN WT 2/ 7/99 2/ 7/99 2001-014 USA DELTA R/B(3) 7925 4/ 7/01 4/ 7/01 2001-014 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 4/ 7/01 4/ 7/01 2001-014 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 4/ 7/01 4/ 7/01 2001-027A USA MAP 6/30/01 10/ 1/01 0 1.0 x 1.01 data past 5/27/06 2001-034A USA GENESIS BUS 8/ 8/01 8/ 8/01 0.28 0.896 x 0.990 data past 9/04 2001-034 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 8/ 8/01 8/ 8/01 0 0.99 x 1.0 2001-034 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 8/ 8/01 8/ 8/01 0 0.99 x 1.0 2002-034A USA CONTOUR (A) 7/ 3/02 8/15/02 8.7 0.876 x 1.131 data to 8/15/02 2002-034B USA CONTOUR (B) 7/ 3/02 8/15/02 8.7 0.876 x 1.131 2002-034C USA CONTOUR (C) 7/ 3/02 8/15/02 8.7 0.876 x 1.131 2003-019A Japan HAYABUSA 5/ 9/03 5/ /03 7.5 0.953 x 1.696 data past 12/7/05 2003-019 Japan MINERVA 5/ 9/03 5/ /03 2003-019 Japan HAYABUSA MARKER (1) 5/ 9/03 5/ /03 2003-019B Japan KM-V2 5/ 9/03 5/ /03 1.0 x 1.2 2003-019 Japan M-34 5/ 9/03 5/ /03 1.0 x 1.2 2003-022 USA FREGAT 6/ 2/03 6/ /03 0.2 1.014 x 1.531 2003-027 USA STAR 48 6/10/03 6/ /03 0.26 1.042 x 1.550 2003-027 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 6/10/03 6/ /03 0.26 1.042 x 1.550 2003-027 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 6/10/03 6/ /03 0.26 1.042 x 1.550 2003-032 USA R/B 7/ 8/03 7/ /03 1.04 1.01 x 1.53 2003-032 USA R/B DESPIN WT (1) 7/ 8/03 7/ /03 1.04 1.01 x 1.53 2003-032 USA R/B DESPIN WT (2) 7/ 8/03 7/ /03 1.04 1.01 x 1.53 2003-038A USA SIRTF 8/25/03 8/25/03 1.14 0.996 x 1.019 data past 5/27/06 2003-038 USA SIRTF DUST COVER 8/25/03 8/25/03 1.14 0.996 x 1.019 2003-038 USA DELTA 300 R/B 8/25/03 8/25/03 8.2 0.86 x 1.01 2004-006A ESA ROSETTA 3/ 2/04 3/ 2/04 0.4 0.885 x 1.094 data past 5/27/06 2004-006 ESA EPS R/B 3/ 2/04 3/ 2/04 0.4 0.885 x 1.094 2004-030A USA MESSENGER 8/ 3/04 8/ 3/04 8.1 0.55 x 0.90 data past 5/27/06 2004-030A USA PAM-D R/B 8/ 3/04 8/ 3/04 6.4 0.92 x 1.08 2005-001A USA DEEP IMPACT FS 1/12/05 1/12/05 0.6 0.91 x 1.628 data past 7/4/05 2005-001A USA PAM-D R/B 1/12/05 1/12/05 0.6 0.91 x 1.628 2005-001A USA PAM-D R/B DESPIN WT (1) 1/12/05 1/12/05 0.6 0.91 x 1.628 2005-001A USA PAM-D R/B DESPIN WT (2) 1/12/05 1/12/05 0.6 0.91 x 1.628 2005-029 USA CENTAUR R/B 8/12/05 8/12/05 3.1 1.013 x 1.680 2005-045 ESA FREGAT R/B 11/ 9/05 11/ 9/05 0.26 0.702 x 0.993 2006-001 USA CENTAUR R/B 1/19/06 1/19/06 0.87 1 x 3 Objects orbiting Venus INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (km) notes 1975-050A USSR VENERA 9 BUS 6/ 8/75 10/22/75 34.2 1510 x 111700 data to 3/22/76 1975-054A USSR VENERA 10 BUS 6/14/75 10/25/75 29.5 1620 x 113900 data to 3/76 1983-053A USSR VENERA 15 6/ 2/83 10/10/83 87 1000 x 65000 1983-054A USSR VENERA 16 6/ 7/83 10/14/83 87 1600 x 65200 1989-033D USA IUS R/B(2) 5/ 4/89 8/10/90 85.5 294 x 8472 2005-045A ESA VENUS EXPRESS 11/ 9/05 4/11/06 90 257 x 70463 data past 5/27/06 Objects orbiting Mars INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (km) notes 1971-045A USSR MARS 2 5/19/71 11/27/71 48.9 1380 x 24940 data to 3/72? 1971-049A USSR MARS 3 5/28/71 12/ 2/71 60 1530 x 214500 data to 3/72? 1971-051A USA MARINER 9 (MARS) 5/30/71 11/14/71 64.34 1394 x 17144 data to 10/27/72 1973-049A USSR MARS 5 7/25/73 2/12/74 35.33 1760 x 32560 1975-075A USA VIKING 1 ORBITER 8/20/75 6/19/76 38 411 x 56275 data to 8/7/80 1975-075 USA VIKING 1 BIOSHIELD BASE 8/20/75 7/20/76 38 1500 x 32800 1975-083A USA VIKING 2 ORBITER 9/ 9/75 8/ 7/76 80.3 302 x 33176 data to 7/25/78 1975-083 USA VIKING 2 BIOSHIELD BASE 9/ 9/75 9/ 3/76 80 302 x 33240 1988-059A USSR PHOBOS 2 7/12/88 3/25/89 1.3 6145 x 6409 data to 3/27/89 1988-059A USSR PHOBOS 2 RETROMOTOR 7/12/88 3/25/89 1.3 6145 x 6409 1996-062A USA MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR 11/ 7/96 9/11/97 92.91 334 x 421 data past 5/27/06 2001-014A USA MARS ODYSSEY 4/ 7/01 10/23/01 93 99 x 2951 data past 5/27/06 2003-022A ESA MARS EXPRESS 6/ 2/03 12/25/03 86.59 260 x 11607 data past 5/27/06 2005-029A USA MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORB 8/12/05 3/10/06 93.3 106 x 44500 data past 5/27/06 Objects orbiting Saturn INT-ID/Name country name launch date in orbit inclin. orbit (km) notes 1997-061A USA CASSINI 10/15/97 7/ 1/04 8.2 231000 x 3533000 data past 5/27/06 Objects escaping the solar system INT-ID/Name country name launch date inclin. location notes 1972-012A USA PIONEER 10 3/ 3/72 3.0 91.875 AU from Sun; V = 12.147 km/s data to 2/25/03 1973-019A USA PIONEER 11 4/ 6/73 14.5 72.535 AU from Sun; V = 11.547 km/s data to 2001 1977-076A USA VOYAGER 2 8/20/77 -31.1 81.138 AU from Sun; V = 15.566 km/s data past 5/27/06 1977-084A USA VOYAGER 1 9/ 5/77 34.8 100.899 AU from Sun; V = 17.131 km/s data past 5/27/06 2006-001A USA NEW HORIZONS 1/19/06 0.87 4.199 AU from Sun; V > 21.145 km/s data past 5/27/06 2006-001A USA STAR 48B R/B 1/19/06 0.87 4.2 AU from Sun; V > 21 km/s 2006-001A USA STAR 48B DESPIN WT (1) 1/19/06 0.87 4.2 AU from Sun; V > 21 km/s 2006-001A USA STAR 48B DESPIN WT (2) 1/19/06 0.87 4.2 AU from Sun; V > 21 km/s Objects on the Moon INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1959-014A USSR LUNA 2 9/12/59 impact 9/13/59 29.1 N 0.0 E 1959-014A USSR LUNA 2 R/B 9/12/59 impact 9/13/59 30 N 1 W 1962-012A USA RANGER 4 4/23/62 impact 4/26/62 15.5 S 130.5 W 1964-007A USA RANGER 6 1/30/64 impact 2/ 2/64 9.39 N 21.51 E 1964-041A USA RANGER 7 7/28/64 impact 7/31/64 10.7 S 20.7 W 1965-010A USA RANGER 8 2/17/65 impact 2/20/65 2.59 N 24.77 E 1965-023A USA RANGER 9 4/10/65 impact 3/24/65 13.3 S 3.0 W 1965-036A USSR LUNA 5 5/ 9/65 crashed 5/12/65 31 S 8 W 1965-077A USSR LUNA 7 10/ 4/65 crashed 10/ 8/65 9 N 49 W 1965-099A USSR LUNA 8 12/ 3/65 crashed 12/ 7/65 9 8'N 63 18'W 1966-006A USSR LUNA 9 1/31/66 landing 2/ 3/66 7 8'N 64 22'W 1966-045A USA SURVEYOR 1 5/30/66 landing 6/ 2/66 2.45 S 43.22 W data to 1/7/67 1966-073A USA LUNAR ORBITER 1 8/10/66 impact 10/29/66 6.7 N 162 E 1966-073B USA ATLAS AGENA D R/B 8/10/66 impact 1966-084A USA SURVEYOR 2 9/20/66 crashed 9/22/66 5.5 N 12 W 1966-100A USA LUNAR ORBITER 2 10/ 6/66 impact 10/11/67 4 S 98 E 1966-116A USSR LUNA 13 12/21/66 landing 12/24/66 18 52'N 62 0.3W data to 12/30/66 1967-008A USA LUNAR ORBITER 3 2/ 5/67 impact 10/ 9/67 14.6 N 91.7 W 1967-035A USA SURVEYOR 3 4/17/67 landing 4/20/67 2.97 N 23.34 W data to 5/4/67 1967-041A USA LUNAR ORBITER 4 5/ 4/67 crashed 10/ 6/67 data to 7/17/67 1967-068A USA SURVEYOR 4 7/14/67 crashed 7/17/67 0.4 N 1.33 W 1967-075A USA LUNAR ORBITER 5 8/ 1/67 impact 1/31/68 2.79 S 83 W 1967-075B USA ATLAS AGENA D R/B 8/ 1/67 impact 1967-084A USA SURVEYOR 5 9/ 8/67 landing 9/11/67 1.5 N 23.19 E data to 12/17/67 1967-112A USA SURVEYOR 6 11/ 7/67 landing 11/10/67 0.53 N 1.4 W data to 12/14/67 1968-001A USA SURVEYOR 7 1/ 7/68 landing 1/10/68 40.86 S 11.47 W data to 2/21/68 1969-043C USA APOLLO 10 LM (DPS) (SNOOPY) 5/18/69 crashed 5/23/69 1969-058A USSR LUNA 15 7/13/69 crashed 7/21/69 17 N 60 E 1969-059C USA APOLLO 11 LM (DPS) (EAGLE) 7/16/69 landing 7/20/69 0.674N 23.473E 1969-059C USA APOLLO 11 LRRR 7/16/69 landing 7/20/69 0.673N 23.473E 1969-059C USA APOLLO 11 LM (APS) (EAGLE) 7/16/69 crashed 1969-099C USA APOLLO 12 LM (DPS) (INTREPID) 11/14/69 landing 11/19/69 3.014S 23.419W 1969-099C USA APOLLO 12 ALSEP 11/14/69 landing 11/19/69 3.011S 23.425W data to 9/30/77 1969-099C USA APOLLO 12 LM (APS) (INTREPID) 11/14/69 impact 11/20/69 3.94 S 21.21 W 1970-029B USA SATURN V R/B(3) APOLLO 13 4/11/70 impact 4/15/70 2.75 S 27.86 W 1970-072A USSR LUNA 16 9/12/70 landing 9/20/70 0.68 S 56.30 E data to 9/21/70 1970-095A USSR LUNA 17 11/10/70 landing 11/15/70 38.213N 35.197W 1970-095A USSR LUNOKHOD 1 11/10/70 landing 11/15/70 38.287N 35.190W data to 10/4/71 1971-008C USA APOLLO 14 LM (DPS) (ANTARES) 1/31/71 landing 2/ 5/71 3.645S 17.471W 1971-008C USA APOLLO 14 ALSEP 1/31/71 landing 2/ 5/71 3.644S 17.478W data to 9/30/77 1971-008C USA APOLLO 14 LRRR 1/31/71 landing 2/ 5/71 3.644S 17.479W 1971-008C USA APOLLO 14 LM (APS) (ANTARES) 1/31/71 impact 2/ 7/71 3.42 S 19.67 W 1971-008B USA SATURN V R/B(3) APOLLO 14 1/31/71 impact 2/ 4/71 8.09 S 26.02 W 1971-063C USA APOLLO 15 LM (DPS) (FALCON) 7/26/71 landing 7/30/71 26.132N 3.634E 1971-063C USA APOLLO 15 ALSEP 7/26/71 landing 7/30/71 26.134N 3.630E data to 9/30/77 1971-063C USA APOLLO 14 LRRR 7/26/71 landing 7/30/71 26.133N 3.628E 1971-063C USA APOLLO 15 LM (APS) (FALCON) 7/26/71 impact 8/ 3/71 26.36 N 0.25 E 1971-063B USA SATURN V R/B(3) APOLLO 15 7/26/71 impact 7/29/71 1.51 S 11.81 W 1971-073A USSR LUNA 18 9/ 2/71 crashed 9/11/71 3.57 N 56.50 E 1972-007A USSR LUNA 20 2/14/72 landing 2/21/72 3.53 N 56.55 E data to 2/22/72 1972-007E USSR LUNA 20 DEBRIS 2/14/72 crashed 2/21/72 1972-031C USA APOLLO 16 LM (DPS) (ORION) 4/16/72 landing 4/21/72 8.973S 15.499E 1972-031C USA APOLLO 16 ALSEP 4/16/72 landing 4/21/72 8.976S 15.496E data to 9/30/77 1972-031C USA APOLLO 16 LM (APS) (ORION) 4/16/72 crashed 3/ /72 1972-031D USA APOLLO 16 (IRW PL) 4/16/72 crashed 5/29/72 10.16 N 111.9 E 1972-031B USA SATURN V R/B(3) APOLLO 16 4/16/72 impact 4/19/72 1.3 N 23.8 W 1972-096C USA APOLLO 17 LM (DPS) (CHALLENGER) 12/ 7/72 landing 12/11/72 20.188N 30.775E 1972-096C USA APOLLO 17 ALSEP 12/ 7/72 landing 12/11/72 20.189N 30.768E data to 9/30/77 1972-096C USA APOLLO 17 LM (APS) (CHALLENGER) 12/ 7/72 impact 12/15/72 19.96 N 30.50 E 1972-096B USA SATURN V R/B(3) APOLLO 17 12/ 7/72 impact 12/10/72 4.21 S 12.31 W 1973-001A USSR LUNA 21 1/ 8/73 landing 1/16/73 25.85 N 30.45 E 1973-001A USSR LUNOKHOD 2 1/ 8/73 landing 1/16/73 25.832N 30.922E data to 6/3/73 1974-084A USSR LUNA 23 10/28/74 landing 11/ 9/74 13.5 N 56.5 E data to 11/12/74 1976-081A USSR LUNA 24 8/ 9/76 landing 8/18/76 12.75 N 62.2 E data to 8/19/76 1990-007A Japan HITEN (MUSES A) 1/24/90 crashed 4/12/93 34.3 S 55.3 E 1998-001A USA LUNAR PROSPECTOR 1/ 7/98 impact 7/31/99 87.7 S 42.35 E 2004-043C ESA SMART-1 9/27/03 impact 9/03/06 34.4 S 46.2 W data to 9/3/06 Objects on Venus INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1965-092A USSR VENERA 3 11/16/65 crashed 3/ 1/66 0 N 160 data to 2/66 1967-058A USSR VENERA 4 6/12/67 crashed 10/18/67 19 N 38 data to 27 km 1967-058 USSR VENERA 4 R/B 6/12/67 impact 10/18/67 19 N 38 1969-001A USSR VENERA 5 1/ 5/69 crashed 3/16/69 3 S 18 data to 25 km 1969-001 USSR VENERA 5 R/B 1/ 5/69 impact 3/16/69 3 S 18 1969-002A USSR VENERA 6 1/10/69 crashed 5/17/69 5 S 23 data to 11 km 1969-002 USSR VENERA 6 R/B 1/10/69 impact 5/17/69 5 S 23 1970-060A USSR VENERA 7 8/17/70 landing 12/15/70 5 S 351 data for 23 min 1970-060 USSR VENERA 7 R/B 8/17/70 impact 12/15/70 5 S 351 1972-021A USSR VENERA 8 3/27/72 landing 7/22/72 10 S 335 data for 50 min 1972-021 USSR VENERA 8 R/B 3/27/72 impact 7/22/72 10 S 335 1975-050D USSR VENERA 9 DESCENT CRAFT 6/ 8/75 landing 10/22/75 31 42N 290 50 data for 53 min 1975-054D USSR VENERA 10 DESCENT CRAFT 6/14/75 landing 10/25/75 16 02N 291 data for 65 min 1978-051A USA PIONEER VENUS 1 ORBITER 5/20/78 burned up 10/ 9/92 1978-078A USA PIONEER VENUS 2 PROBE BUS 8/ 8/78 burned up 12/ 9/78 37.9 N 290.9 data to 120 km 1978-078G USA PIONEER VENUS 2 LARGE PROBE 8/ 8/78 impact 12/ 9/78 4.4 N 304.0 data to surface 1978-078D USA PIONEER VENUS 2 SMALL PROBE 1 8/ 8/78 impact 12/ 9/78 59.3 N 4.8 data to surface 1978-078E USA PIONEER VENUS 2 SMALL PROBE 2 8/ 8/78 crashed 12/ 9/78 31.3 N 317.0 data to surface 1978-078F USA PIONEER VENUS 2 SMALL PROBE 3 8/ 8/78 landing 12/ 9/78 28.7 S 56.7 data for 68 min 1978-084D USSR VENERA 11 DESCENT CRAFT 9/ 9/78 landing 12/23/78 14 S 299 data for 95 min 1978-086C USSR VENERA 12 DESCENT CRAFT 9/14/78 landing 12/21/78 7 S 294 data for 110 min 1981-106D USSR VENERA 13 DESCENT CRAFT 10/30/81 landing 3/ 1/82 7 30S 303 data for 127 min 1981-110D USSR VENERA 14 DESCENT CRAFT 11/ 4/81 landing 3/ 3/82 13 15S 310 09W data for 57 min 1984-125E USSR VEGA 1 DESCENT CRAFT 12/15/84 landing 6/11/85 7.2 N 177.8 data for 56 min 1984-125F USSR VEGA 1 BALLOON 12/15/84 landing 6/12/85 data for 46.5 hr 1984-128E USSR VEGA 2 DESCENT CRAFT 12/21/84 landing 6/15/85 6.45S 181.08W data for 57 min 1984-128F USSR VEGA 2 BALLOON 12/21/84 landing 6/16/85 data for 46.5 hr 1989-033B USA MAGELLAN 5/ 4/89 burned up 10/13/97 Objects on Mars INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1971-045D USSR MARS 2 CAPSULE 5/19/71 crashed 11/27/71 45 S 302 W 1971-049E USSR MARS 3 DESCENT CRAFT 5/28/71 landing 12/ 2/71 45 S 158 W data for 90 sec 1973-052D USSR MARS 6 DESCENT CRAFT 8/ 5/73 crashed 3/12/74 24 S 25 W 1975-075C USA VIKING LANDER 1 8/20/75 landing 7/20/76 22.483N 47.94 W data to 11/13/82 1975-083C USA VIKING LANDER 2 9/ 9/75 landing 9/ 3/76 47.968N 225.71 W data to 4/12/80 1996-068A USA MARS PATHFINDER 12/ 4/96 landing 7/ 4/97 19.33 N 33.55 W data to 10/7/97 1996-068A USA MARS SOJOURNER 12/ 4/96 landing 7/ 4/97 19.33 N 33.55 W data to 8/20/97 1998-073A USA MARS CLIMATE ORBITER 12/11/98 burned up 9/23/99 1999-001A USA MARS POLAR LANDER 1/ 3/99 crashed 12/ 3/99 76.1 S 195.3 W data to 12/3/99 1999-001A USA DEEP SPACE 2 MICROPROBE 1 1/ 3/99 crashed 12/ 3/99 75.0 S 196.5 W data to 12/3/99 1999-001A USA DEEP SPACE 2 MICROPROBE 2 1/ 3/99 crashed 12/ 3/99 75.0 S 196.5 W data to 12/3/99 2003-022A ESA BEAGLE-2 6/ 2/03 crashed 12/25/03 11 N 270 W? 2003-027A USA MER-A COLUMBIA STATION 6/10/03 landing 1/ 3/04 14.569S 184.527W 2003-027A USA MER-A SPIRIT ROVER 6/10/03 landing 1/ 3/04 14.587S 184.478W data past 5/27/06 2003-027A USA MER-A HEATSHIELD 6/10/03 impact 1/ 3/04 14.562S 184.522W 2003-027A USA MER-A BACKSHELL 6/10/03 impact 1/ 3/04 14.561S 184.534W 2003-032A USA MER-B CHALLENGER STATION 7/ 8/03 landing 1/24/04 1.946S 5.527W 2003-032A USA MER-B OPPORTUNITY ROVER 7/ 8/03 landing 1/24/04 1.954S 5.515W data past 5/27/06 2003-032A USA MER-B HEATSHIELD 7/ 8/03 impact 1/24/04 1.953S 5.515W 2003-032A USA MER-B BACKSHELL 7/ 8/03 impact 1/24/04 1.951S 5.533W Objects on 433 Eros INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1996-008A USA NEAR SHOEMAKER 2/17/96 landing 2/12/01 35 S 279 W data to 2/28/01 Objects on 25143 Itokawa INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 2003-019 Japan HAYABUSA MARKER (1) 5/ 9/03 landing 11/19/05 Objects on 9P/Tempel 1 INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 2005-001A USA DEEP IMPACT IS 1/12/05 impact 7/ 4/05 data to 7/4/05 Objects on Jupiter INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1989-084B USA GALILEO ORBITER 10/18/89 burned up 9/21/03 data to 9300 km 1989-084B USA GALILEO PROBE 10/18/89 burned up 12/ 7/95 data to -160 km Objects on Titan INT-ID/Name country name launch date type date location notes 1997-061A ESA HUYGENS 10/15/97 landing 1/14/05 11 S 192 W data for 190 min
Primary sources:
© 2000-2005, 2006 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 14 November 2006.
William Jennings Bryan hasn't been saying much lately.
I must admit that you did your homework. Your master thesis has been accepted with a more-than-passing grade.
LOL! Sorry for the spamalot! But seriously, we lose so damn much perspective in America.
Maybe that's what makes us so great. If a Chinese child with water wings hops off the diving board into the kiddie pool, we Americans expect ourselves to launch an array of synchronized swimmers with fireworks and marching bands---or else we're a failure and traitors to our founding fathers!
Not necessarily. There are a lot of ways to deal with ASAT activity, ranging from "overpopulating" with satellites, maneuvering targeted satellites, stealth, or creating a rapid replacement capability.
The more difficult part is actually defining a realistic threat environment. It's difficult to come up with countermeasures of you don't have that.
I don't know that you can separate offensive from defensive thinking here.
It's obvious by inspection that our military is heavily dependent on our space assets -- they're an obvious target regardless of your military posture.
I feel all warm and fuzzy after seeing THAT list!
Not quite. ASAT capability is very similar to nuclear weapons, in the sense that they can be either first-use or retaliatory. First use is clearly an act of war....
"Defensive use" is predicated on the theory that we or an ally have already, or are clearly about to attack them, or are a threat to attack them.
Since that's not likely, it seems more likely that this is meant to provide an offensive capability to be used as part of an initial strike. As a side benefit, it increases our space costs, probably significantly, because we now have to deal with the threat somehow.
BTW: Please do not construe my comments as a defense of the Red Chinese.
Didn't even cross my mind to do so....
Excellent compilation and post, sam_paine!! BTTT!
I've wondered if China's action has anything to do with the buildup of our navy in the Persian Gulf. That is, whether China's message might be: don't mess with our ally (Iran) or we will cripple your technology.
Ahem....I believe you should note that Defense Minister Chi Haotian begs to differ with you:
After the June 4 riot was suppressed, we have been thinking about how to prevent China from peaceful evolution and how to maintain the Communist Party’s leadership. We thought it over and over but did not come up with any good ideas. If we do not have good ideas, China will inevitably change peacefully, and we will all become criminals in history. After some deep pondering, we finally come to this conclusion: Only by turning our developed national strength into the force of a fist striking outward—only by leading people to go out —can we win forever the Chinese people’s support and love for the Communist Party. Our Party will then stand on invincible ground, and the Chinese people will have to depend on the Communist Party. They will forever follow the Communist Party with their hearts and minds, as was written in a couplet frequently seen in the countryside some years ago: “Listen to Chairman Mao, Follow the Communist Party!” Therefore, the June 4 riot made us realize that we must combine economic development with preparation for war and leading the people to go out!Therefore, since then, our national defense policy has taken a 180 degree turn and we have since emphasized more and more “combining peace and war.” Our economic development is all about preparing for the need of war! Publicly we still emphasize economic development as our center, but in reality, economic development has war as its center! We have made a tremendous effort to construct “The Great Wall Project” to build up, along our coastal and land frontiers as well as around large and medium-sized cities, a solid underground “Great Wall” that can withstand a nuclear war. We are also storing all necessary war materials. Therefore, we will not hesitate to fight a Third World War, so as to lead the people to go out and to ensure the Party’s leadership position. In any event, we, the CCP, will never step down from the stage of history! We’d rather have the whole world, or even the entire globe, share life and death with us than step down from the stage of history!
The Chicoms are making and selling to us the rope we will hang by. Get yours at a Great Wal-Mart of China near you.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
For their Tienamen, we have our Waco. And you cite a member of China's old guard military, without considering the vastness of the change within China's civilian government.
Tienamen was a tragedy and there remain many old guard Communists. But unless you've been to China in the past 10 years, you can't even imagine the transformation that is taking place there.
My hope is that China will continue to develop economically and politicall. Their rising tide will lift all boats.
Chi Haotian rose to the top rank of Defense Minister well after Tianamen Square's massacre....in 1995.
And he was in power until 2003, a full eight years, standard for that office.
His successor is not noticeably of different outlook. If you're looking for incremental change...you're looking in vain.
Thank you ex-president Clinton. I hope the first bomb they drop hits you on the head.
As soon as China reaches parity with the US in terms of space capability they will renounce the 1967 UN Outer Space treaty faster than you can blink.
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