Thursday, January 18, 2007

China's ASAT

U. S. intelligence agencies believe China performed a successful anti-satellite (asat) weapons test at more than 500 mi. altitude Jan. 11 destroying an aging Chinese weather satellite target with a kinetic kill vehicle launched on board a ballistic missile.

The Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, NASA and other government organizations have a full court press underway to obtain data on the alleged test, Aviation Week & Space Technology will report in its Jan. 22 issue.

If the test is verified it will signify a major new Chinese military capability.

Isn't it interesting that China has been one of the most vocal countries against the US 'weaponizing' space and yet in the past couple months they have tested, apparently successfully, blinding laser and kinetic kill ASATs. Huh.

I'd have to say taht space is weaponized. For better or worse.

FWIW, I'm definitely not against it.

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