Anti-satellite weapon test?, Is this true? |
Anti-satellite weapon test?, Is this true? |
Jan 19 2007, 02:39 PM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 96 Joined: 20-September 06 From: Hanoi, Vietnam Member No.: 1164 |
According to this link, China fired a missile to destroy an orbiting weather satellite last week: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/China_Tras...e_Test_999.html
I am curios about what kind of projectile could be used? A "smart" one with on board guidance system or just a dumb one? How close did the "killer satellite" came to the target? Does anybody have an idea? |
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Jan 22 2007, 07:34 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 688 Joined: 20-April 05 From: Sweden Member No.: 273 |
Actually a satellite in LEO is not a particularly challenging target. Its position and trajectory is known in advance and it is usually a non-maneuvring target. Also it usually has a nice big cross-section in both the radar, IR and visual band and operates in a very uncluttered environment.
All that is needed is a reasonably precise suborbital rocket and a suitable warhead. However I doubt that the "ball-bearing/sand" solution is cost effective. Unless You release quite close to the target they would probably disperse too thinly to ensure a kill. It would probably be better to use a homing warhead with a proximity fuse. Anybody having the technology for the carrier rocket should be able to handle the guidance system and the warhead too. tty |
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