China Tests New Anti-Satellite Missile

China ASAT Missile. China Daily Mail

China Conducts Test Of New Anti-Satellite Missile -- Washington Free Beacon

Launch was disguised as a space-exploration rocket

China’s military on Monday conducted the first test of a new ground-launched anti-satellite missile that was fired into space and disguised as a space-exploration rocket, according to U.S. officials.

The test was carried out early Monday from the Xichang Space Launch center and was identified by officials as the new Dong Ning-2 ASAT missile.

The ASAT test comes a week after China protested the release of the Pentagon’s annual report on the Chinese military buildup that mentioned Beijing’s development of anti-satellite weapons.

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My Comment: No one else is reporting this story. If true .... no one wants to talk about it.

China May Conduct An ASAT Missile Test This Month

China Might Conduct Anti-Sat Test This Month – UCS -- Defense News

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) believes China may be planning to conduct an anti-satellite (ASAT) test sometime this month. USC China Project Director Gregory Kulacki provides details about the possible test and its timing in a blog posted today titled “Is January Chinese ASAT Testing Month?”

Background: One hint that China is planning a test is the fact that it used its interceptor technology to destroy targets in space twice before—in 2007 and 2010—on January 11. The 2007 test destroyed a defunct Chinese satellite at an altitude of about 530 miles (850 kilometers (km)). China used the same technology for a missile defense test in 2010.

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Update #1: Chinese ASAT Missile Test Looms -- Washington Free Beacon
Update #2: China said to be planning ASAT test -- EETimes
Update #3: Will China Launch an Anti-Satellite Test Soon? -- Space.com

My Comment: The world cannot afford an arms race in space, but this Chinese test (if it happens) will help to lay the groundwork for such a possibility.

U.S. Intelligence: China To Conduct Anti-Satellite Weapon Test

China To Shoot At High Frontier -- Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

U.S. Intelligence: China to conduct test of more powerful anti-satellite weapon capable of hitting GPS, spy satellites, but after U.S. election.

China’s military is set to conduct a test of a new and more capable anti-satellite missile that United States intelligence agencies say can knock out strategic satellites in high-earth orbit, according to U.S. officials.

However, a recent intelligence assessment said the test of the Dong Ning-2 direct ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon is being delayed in an apparent effort to avoid upsetting President Barack Obama’s reelection bid, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Update: China to test new anti-satellite weapon: report -- Taipei Times

My Comment: I am doubtful of the Washington Free Beacon's assertion that the Chinese are delaying their anti-satellite test to help President Obama win re-election .... my impression of the Chinese through all of my years of going there, living there, knowing many Chinese friends .... is that they do not care what happens in a U.S. election cycle. But the Chinese space program is ongoing, and it is their military that is calling the shots. Will they conduct an anti-satellite test .... I guess we will find out in the next few months ... but I would not be surprised.

Did The Russians Deliberately Destroy An American Satellite? -- An Editorial

This image provided by NASA shows an artist concept of an Iridium satellite in earth orbit. (AP/NASA)

Strike From Space? -- The Washington Times

Russian Maj. Gen. Leonid Shershnev surprised us Tuesday with his strange charge that the United States had engineered the collision between America's Iridium 33 and Russia's Cosmos 2251 satellites over Siberia on Feb. 10. More shockingly, Russia's deputy defense minister, Gen. Valentin Popovkin, said Thursday that Russia was working on anti-satellite technology and already had the "basic, key elements" of such weapons.

One certainty we remember from the Cold War: Whatever Russia accuses us of doing, it is, in fact, doing itself. That makes us wonder whether the Russians really did down an American satellite last month. Is this the long awaited "test" of our new president that Vice President Biden warned of?

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My Comment: It has been a month since this collision occurred ... and the story is breaking now? Unfortunately, details and additional information will probably never be released .... which is "too bad" because additional information may answer some questions that would deflate any "conspiracy" theories.

One must also face the fact that the political objectives for both Russia and the U.S. is to now pursue a policy of rapprochement. Telling the world that the Russians deliberately shot down an American satellite would only inflame the situation.

Reports: Russia Building Anti-Satellite Weapons

ASAT Missile (Image from Drsky.com)

From Yahoo News/AP:

MOSCOW – Russia is working to develop anti-satellite weapons to match efforts by other nations, a deputy defense minister was quoted as saying Thursday.

Gen. Valentin Popovkin said Russia continues to oppose a space arms race but will respond to moves made by other countries, according to Russian news reports.

"We can't sit back and quietly watch others doing that, such work is being conducted in Russia," Popovkin was quoted as saying.

Russia already has some "basic, key elements" of such weapons, but refused to elaborate, Popovkin said.

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Update #1: Russia developing anti-satellite weapons -- Russia Today
Update #2: Russia developing space weapons: Official -- NDTV

My Comment: It is surprising that they do not have the rudiments for a system right now. But with China developing a system, we should not be surprised that the Russians will quickly follow with their own platform.