US rattled as China successfully tests satellite-killerA successful test that China reportedly conducted to smash a satellite using ground-based, medium-range ballistic missile has evoked the United States' concern. And, defence analysts fear that this could trigger a space arms race.
US spy agencies said China shot down an ageing weather satellite by slamming into it a ground-based missile about 860 km above the earth.
China conducted the test on January 11, 2007, but Beijing had not informed any country about its intention to do so, US officials said.
So far, the United States and the former Soviet Union were the only countries to have successfully held satellite-killing tests – the last one being some 20 years ago during concluding years of the Cold War.
It is feared that the Chinese technology could be harmful for low-orbit spy satellites of the United States.
US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the US thinks that China's development and testing of the satellite-killer weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the era of civil space.
Gordon Johndroe said: "We and other countries have expressed our concern regarding the actions of the Chinese." However, he did not identify the other states, but media reports said Canada and Australia were among them.
Some analysts believe that China's latest weapon test could put pressure on the US Administration to negotiate treaties for banning weaponisation of space, something which it has resisted till now.
Quoting Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer who tracks rocket launching and space activity, The New York Times said this is the first real escalation in the weaponisation of space in 20 years. "It ends a long period of restraint," McDowell remarked.
Another concern is that the debris of the smashed satellite could hit other satellites and put them out of action at a time when the whole world depends on satellites for communications. America's particular fear is that the debris could hit its spy satellites.
Some experts even fear that the debris could pose threat to other satellites for years.
The last such test, conducted by the US on September 13, 1985, was later halted fearing that the debris could dent other satellites. But, the US had then shied away from pressing for a global treaty to ban such tests.
Repots say that the satellites presumably in the range of the Chinese missiles include most of the imagery satellites used for basic military reconnaissance, which are vital for the US intelligence set-up watching out for military movements, potential nuclear tests and terrorism.
In August 2006, President Bush had announced a new space policy which called for preserving US rights, capabilities and freedom of action in space and dissuading or deterring others from either impeding those rights or developing capabilities intended do so.Labels: International Politics |
