[X] My Assistant

[Thu]

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?

[djellison]

Very very close to becoming a political thread here - but the USA recently refused to sign up to an agreement banning such tests.

Doug

[Chmee]

The US did develop an anti-satellite weapon back in the 1980's and actually shot one down in 1985. I beleive the weapon was actually carried on an F-15 and shot into space (Pagasus style). While the US has not conducted such tests since then (that we know of..) it is beleived they still have the capability.

As for the Chinese anti-sat weapon being 'smart' or 'dumb' it is hard to say. You would not have to do a 'bullet hits a bullet' type of kill vehicle to accomplish this. Rather, a 'dumb' weapon could be used to spray some material, over a large area, in the path of the intended satellite, like sand or ball bearings. The relative speed would between the objects would be all thats needed.

[djellison]

like sand or ball bearings. The relative speed would between the objects would be all thats needed.

That's what I was imagining this to have been. Launch - on a high sub-orb trajectory, and disperse a cloud of lead shot etc - through the satellite goes - 7.5k/sec impacts - the remaining shot just re-enters harmlessly but the sat is blown to pieces.

Doug