Flexing Muscle, China Destroys Satellite in Test

Arms control experts called the test, in which the weapon destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite, a troubling development that could foreshadow an antisatellite arms race. Alternatively, however, some experts speculated that it could precede a diplomatic effort by China to prod the [Bush] admi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New York times
Main Authors WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER, Mark Mazzetti contributed reporting
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, N.Y New York Times Company 19.01.2007
EditionLate Edition (East Coast)
Subjects
International relations-US
Meteorological satellites
Space surveillance
Space weapons
Weapons testing
United States
China
US
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Summary:Arms control experts called the test, in which the weapon destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite, a troubling development that could foreshadow an antisatellite arms race. Alternatively, however, some experts speculated that it could precede a diplomatic effort by China to prod the [Bush] administration into negotiations on a weapons ban. The weather satellite hit by the weapon had circled the globe at an altitude of roughly 500 miles. In theory, the test means that China can now hit American spy satellites, which orbit closer to Earth. The satellites presumably in range of the Chinese missile include most of the imagery satellites used for basic military reconnaissance, which are essentially the eyes of the American intelligence community for military movements, potential nuclear tests and even some counterterrorism, and commercial satellites. Ms. [Theresa Hitchens] and other critics have accused the administration of conducting secret research on advanced antisatellite weapons using lasers, which are considered a far speedier and more powerful way of destroying satellites than the weapons of two decades ago.
ISSN:0362-4331