Anti-Satellite Weapons

Anti-Satellite Weapons

Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT's) are developed with the purpose of destroying satellites. The United States, China, and the Russian Federation have successfully tested anti-satellite missiles. Anti-satellite weapons are an emerging technology in response to the ever increasing militarization of space.

Fast Facts

Former Soviet Union began designing ASAT's in the 1950's
China destroyed a defunct weather satellite on January 11, 2007
Soviet Union is said to have created one in 1971
Last U.S. testing was in 1985
India claims to have ASAT's
United States military shot down satellite February 20, 2008.

Chinese Space Weapons

On October 23, 2007, China launched its first orbiter around the moon. Chinese submarines tested a remote navigation system, that allowed the orbiter to change course based on signals sent from earth. The test sparked U.S. fears that China was attempting to develop a space weapon capable of destroying satellites.

Space Treaty

On February 12, 2008, Russia and China reported that they will present a treaty to The United Nations hoping to restrict the use of space weapons. The United States, which presumably leads the way in space technology, has maintained a stance against international regulation of space weapons.

Categories

News | Science | Science and Technology News | International Relations | Diplomacy

| View Note History

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Anti-Satellite Weapons
Federation of American Scientists: "The U.S. Anti-Satellite Program..." (May 1987)
Vought Aircraft Industries: ASAT: Anti Satelite Missile Overview
Union of Concerned Scientists: A History of ASAT Programs
GlobalSecurity.org: Anti-Satellite Weapons
Popular Mechanics: "China's Space Threat: Missiles Could Target U.S. in Space" (July 2007)
The Economist: The Militarisation of Space: Disharmony in the Spheres (January 17, 2008)

Anti-Satellite Weapons Recent News Stories

Google News: Anti-Satellite Weapons
The Daily Telegraph: Russia, China propose new treaty to ban space weapons (February 12, 2008)
The Washington Times: U.S. Satellites Dodge Chinese Missile Debris (January 11, 2008)
DefenseNews.com: Anti-Satellite Test Shows U.S. Weaknesses (October 17, 2007)

Anti-Satellite Weapons Background

Russia and China Proposed Joint Space Treaty

AFP: Russia, China propose new treaty to ban arms in space (February 12, 2008)
Boston.com: Russia warns of new arms race without space ban (February 12, 2008)
Kommersant: Russia, China Urge U.N. to Ban Space Weapons (February 12, 2008)

U.S. National Space Policy

MSNBC.com: Chinese anti-satellite test sparks concern (January 18, 2007)
U.S. Department of Space: The President’s National Space Policy – Assuring America’s... (January 11, 2007)
MSNBC.com: U.S. stresses ‘freedom of action’ in space (October 7, 2006)
Federation of American Scientists: "National Space Policy" (September 19, 1996)

Space Debris

Wikipedia: Space Debris
National Geographic: Orbital Objects, Satellites, Space Junk Information
The Washington Times: U.S. satellites dodge Chinese missile debris (January 11, 2008)
FOXNews.com: NASA Moves Satellite to Avoid Chinese Weapon Debris (July 6, 2007)
SPACE.com: China's Anti-Satellite Test: Worrisome Debris Cloud Circles Earth (February 2, 2007)

'Star Wars' Strategic Defense System

Mahalo's page on Militarization of Space
Wikipedia: ASAT in the era of Strategic Defense | Strategic Defense Initiative
The New York Times: " U.S. PROMOTING OFFENSIVE ROLE FOR 'STAR WARS'" (November 27, 1988)
Google Book: Anti-satellite weapons, countermeasures, and arms control.

Anti-Satellite Weapons Commentary and Criticism

The Manila Times Internet Edition: OPINION > Antisatellite weapons ban, antiballistic... (January 22, 2007)
Naples Daily News: Threat of anti-satellite weapons greater... (February 4, 2007)
Defense Tech: CHINA SPACE ATTACK: UNSTOPPABLE (January 18, 2007)
Opinion Asia: China's Anti-Satellite Test: No News is Bad News (January 30, 2007)
World Politics Review: Has China Launched an Arms Race in Space? (January 25, 2007)
The Acronym Institute: "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems" (January 2003)
RussianSpaceWeb: IS anti-satellite system

Anti-Satellite Weapons Message Boards and Blogs

Democrats.com Blog Post: Chinese Test Anti-Satellite Weapon And Americans... (January 20, 2007)
New Scientist Space Blog Post: China tests space weapon (January 18, 2007)
LiveScience.com Blog Post: Chunks of Junk - China ASAT Test, Plus One Year January 11, 2008)
Wired News Blog Post: U.S. Knew Sat-Killer Was Coming (April 23, 2007)
ArmsControlWonk Blog Post: Chinese Test ASAT? (January 17, 2007)

Central Figures

United States
- MSNBC.com: U.S. favors stealthy anti-satellite strategy (April 11, 2007)
- BBC News: Dominating The Final Frontier (October 19, 2006)
- International Herald Tribune: U.S. Tries to Develop Anti-Satellite Weapon (May 4, 2006)
- The New York Times: "Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs" (May 18, 2005)
- The New York Times: "Military Seeks Repeal of Anti-Satellite Limits" (March 11, 1987)

China
- Mahalo's page on Chinese Space Weapon
- Wikipedia: 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test
- BBC News: Concern over China's missile test (January 19, 2007)
- NPR: Chinese Missile Destroys Satellite in 500-Mile Orbit (January 19, 2007)

Russia
- Wikipedia: Anti-satellite weapon: USSR
- BBC News: Russia proposes space arms treaty (February 12, 2008)
- Federation of American Scientists: Yeltsin letter reveals anti-satellite weapons (November 7, 1997)
- The New York Times: "The Myth of the Soviet 'Killer' Laser" (August 19, 1989)
- RussianSpaceWeb: IS anti-satellite system

Anti-Satellite Weapons Satire and Humor

YouTube: Chinese Anti-Satellite Missile Video (Time:2:28)
The Satirical Political Report: Citing Chinese Anti-Satellite Test, Bush Invades Space (January 27, 2007)

Related Pages on Mahalo

Militarization of Space | Chinese Space Weapon | Nuclear Proliferation | Missile Defense System | NASA | Russian Federation | China | United States