HOLY CRAP! "China Tests Anti-Satellite Weapon, Unnerving U.S."

[originalpckelly]

" China successfully carried out its first test of an anti-satellite weapon last week, signaling its resolve to play a major role in military space activities and bringing expressions of concern from Washington and other capitals, the Bush administration said Thursday.

Only two nations — Russia and the United States — have previously destroyed spacecraft in anti-satellite tests, most recently the United States in the mid 1980s.

Arms control experts called the test, in which a Chinese missile destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite, a troubling development that could foreshadow either an anti-satellite arms race or, alternatively, a diplomatic push by China to force the Bush administration into negotiations on a weapons ban.

“This is the first real escalation in the weaponization of space that we’ve seen in 20 years,” said Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer who tracks rocket launchings and space activity. “It ends a long period of restraint.”"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/world/asia/18cnd-china.html?hp&ex=1169182800&en=1cccc5a239b55188&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, they do.

[stevedeshazer]

1. There's no way to emphasize how important this is

If China has developed the ability to take out our communications satellites, we are in even deeper shit than I thought.

Practically everything except local radio comes to you via satellite.

Take it from this pre-Telstar American: This is very bad news.

[Richard Steele]

4. I probably shouldn't have declined that opportunity to learn Chinese....

Luckily, I take such poor care of myself that I
probably won't live long enough to ever REALLY need it.

Anyone who plans to "do business" after 2020 or so would
be wise to start learning it NOW.

[originalpckelly]

6. This is really a national security threat...

because there are weapons system that depend on GPS. Imagine if China were to whack those constellations of satellites?

This is really a very serious thing here, this is a real threat to us in the country, unlike the BS nuke claims about Iran.

[stevedeshazer]

9. It is a BIG DEAL.

This is a much bigger threat, this is a Cold War-sized threat.

[Pavulon]

12. Nope

they threw a dart. chemical laser or killer satellite would be more concerning.

[stevedeshazer]

15. So it was just a lucky shot?

I'm not sure what you mean.

[originalpckelly]

19. Yeah, those darts can shoot down our GPS and comms sats...

And they also have tested a laser as well.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. the bad news is that NSA CIA FBI had no FUCKING CLUE

that they were that close.

of course they, the russians, the french, the brits, the japanese, even the israelis have been doing this research. how can this be a surprise?

[Igel]

21. Remember that.

Others should to, when they assume the CIA is omniscient and rely crucially on CIA (or any intelligence agency's) estimates for weapons development in another country.

In the early '90s the CIA was dumbfounded when it found out exactly what progess Iraq had made in nuclear weapons development--so was the IAEA and its inspectors.

[stevedeshazer]

25. Well, they did find them there yellercake docs from Niger

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/030331fa_fact1

[Spazito]

2. Well, seeing as bush did another "Bring it on" decision regarding

the control of space it is no surprise that China is "responding" to the challenge:

Bush issues doctrine for US control of space


Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Thursday October 19, 2006


George Bush has staked out a bold claim to the final frontier, asserting vigorously America's right to deny access to space to any adversary hostile to US interests, it emerged yesterday.
In a muscular overhaul of policy, the US president outlines the importance of space to the national interest, saying its domination is as crucial to America's defences as air or sea power.

The order also opposes the establishment of arms control treaties that would restrict US access to space, or set limits on its use of space. It calls for the development of space capabilities to support US intelligence and defence initiatives.

more

http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,,1925757,00.html

[Deja Q]

3. So why did the US let Chinese officials tour US military bases a few months ago?

Another DUer posted that article in November, I believe...

[BeHereNow]

5. Because they count on you NOT remembering that little incident...

Shame on you!
How dare you bring that up!
GOOD Americans do not question the decider!
:sarcasm:
BHN

[originalpckelly]

7. I remember reading that too...

Both Clinton and Bush are a bunch of fucking fools, they've allowed the Chinese to float to the top of the food chain. And while we're a bad country, we certainly have a freer society than China. Americans are beings executed in prisons to have their organs harvested, nor are doctors lying to patients to get them to volunteer themselves as guinea pigs for dangerous operations, and we allow people to view what they want on the internet.

The Chinese (or at least their government) is undoubtedly evil. This is just not good.

[LSK]

8. maybe they wanted to check on all the stuff made in China n/t

[Pavulon]

10. Pretty sure we have been sitting on this

since a loud Russian banged his shoe on a table and said we will bury you..

They flew a dart in to a piece of metal in space.

Development of air based and ground based systems that use chemical lasers and kinetic darts have been in the works for at least a generation.

This will green light programs here and in russia.

[Auggie]

13. Why would China want to take out our satellites?

They need our market just as we need their manufacturing.

[stevedeshazer]

18. To market their own satellites.

And to neutralize ours.

[originalpckelly]

20. No, it's military...

they could take us out. There would be no way for us to defend ourselves, because so many of our weapons are based on satellites.

[stevedeshazer]

22. That's what I'm saying

Taking ours out vaults the value of theirs, financially and militarily.

We agree.

[originalpckelly]

24. Gotcha, sorry...

:hi:

[Auggie]

27. They need someone to buy all the crap they make. That's the U.S.A.

[originalpckelly]

29. There are other coutries...

we are now only their second largest trading partner, the EU does more trade with them then we do.

[Auggie]

31. That doesn't mean you drop your second biggest customer

[eleny]

14. One heck of a reply to W's sabre rattling

Now I'm rattled. :scared:

[calimary]

16. And bush is making us safer? Let's all remember (and remind everyone

we come across) that THIS, TOO, HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH.

[onehandle]

17. And Iran is the threat.

Hey, Bush. Invade China.

No?

Pussy.

[madrchsod]

23. the military knew this was coming but i do`t think

that thought it would be this soon. the last i read was at least 15-20 years but the timetable has been changed. yet i`m sure the boys in area51 have things in development that we really do`t want to know about...

[originalpckelly]

26. If you think about it, we could probably do this too...

a satellite follows a pretty standard and predictable orbit. That's very much unlike the missiles we've been focusing on with missile defense.

[roamer65]

28. Looks like China is getting sick of all of our spy birds...

shitting in their back yard. LOL.

[rug]

30. As long as they keeping checking my shoes at the airport, I feel safe enough not to worry about this