Star Wars

The US is set to shoot down a broken spy satellite. This all follows last year's action by China, which fired a missile at one of its old weather satellite. The destruction of the Chinese satellite produced about 28% of the debris that is now in orbit, which poses a major threat to functioning satellites. In contrast the US plans to destroy their satellite as it reenters the atmosphere, allowing the fragments to burn up on their descent. Satellites leaving orbit and entering the earth's atmosphere is not uncommon, but military officials say that this case is being given special consideration due to hazardous materials on board.

Comments

[KoS]

ya, we sabotoge our own satellite to flex our muscles.....please. *rolls eyes*

Plus, we have already done tests, a long time ago.

You might want to reread the stories concering this. They are planning on hitting the satellite just before it enters the atmosphere. Which, hopefully, most of it will burn up in the atmosphere instead of pelting the earth or adding to the clutter in space.

Also, the Chinese didn't do their test last month, it was just over a year ago.

*passes along my tin-foil stovetop hat*

KoS

[John]

You're right. I was way off on that one. I fixed some of my errors. Nonetheless, I am still weary about these displays of earth to space force. Perhaps the US isn't really "flexing muscles" on this one. But China surely has been and the Bush administration has been looking into Reagan's old plans.

"Donald Rumsfeld chaired a special commission to review America's space policy. It issued a stark warning that America could suffer a crippling surprise attack on its space systems—a 'space Pearl Harbour'—and argued that America 'must develop the means both to deter and to defend against hostile acts in and from space.'"
-From The Economist, "Disharmony in the spheres" January 17th, 2008