**The United States, Australia and Canada have criticised China over a weapons test it is said to have carried out in space last week. **
The Americans say the Chinese sent up a ballistic missile to destroy an ageing weather satellite.
They say the test went against the spirit of co-operation both countries aspire to in the area of civil space.
Reports say Britain, South Korea and Japan were expected to express their concerns to China soon.
Earlier, a report in the American Aviation Week magazine said that US spy agencies had concluded that China conducted a successful test of a satellite-killing weapon on January 11.
It said China knocked out the weather satellite with a “kinetic kill vehicle” launched on board a ballistic missile. The impact occurred at more than 500 miles (800 km) above Earth.
I was reading the news article on CNN about this Chinese 'space weapon' and it mentioned that US has the ability, and had demonstrated, killing a satellite in space as far back as in 1985.
In addition, the article mentioned that under a space policy authorized by President Bush in August, the United States asserts a right to "freedom of action in space" and says it will "deter others from either impeding those rights or developing capabilities intended to do so." The policy includes the right to "deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests."
There got to be a limit to this BS. Days of this we-can-do-anything-and-if-you-do-it-we-will-come-after-you mentality are now gone.
Its easy to see why US is so nervous about this Chinese ability. Low-orbit satellites are the eyes of all US missile technologies and if China has now the ability to blind US, thats obviously a concern. But the solution MUST lie in US developing a better technology, and not running after a sovereign nation, that is arguably 22 years behind in catching up on space weaponry.
So, what is the principle here then? Is this the famous US-can-have-whatever-she-wants-but-no-one-else-can principle? US has already tested destroying a satellite in space back in '85. Chinese do it 22 years later. Correct?
Well the Space Rules if you do this kind of test you must inform the global community due to the fact if the missile misses or satellite debris falls in an unexpected way, many places around the globe could be vulnerable.
There got to be a limit to this BS. Days of this we-can-do-anything-and-if-you-do-it-we-will-come-after-you mentality are now gone.
US has a similar policy regarding high seas and shipping. Perhaps some guppie with naval experience can talk more about this. One outcome of the US' high seas policy has led to open and safe travel corridors to merchants ships and in general has benefitted trade and commerce.
Also, did you know that Chinese have left a cloud of debris after their test, risking other satellites in the orbit? Also, does US policy threaten any country for releasing their satellites?
^ Point is, US has alredy tested, and still retains the power to take out any low orbit satellite in space. So now if she turns around and says that no one else should have that power, I think the word is "hypocritical". Unless, ofcourse, US plans to dismantle its missile program that can take out space satellites. The same is true for nuclear policy as well.
Point is, when US threatens Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Syria... they are just small fish. Can be coerced or sanctioned. Over there the hypocritical US policy is tolerated. When it comes to China, now US is playing with big boys. Do you think China gives a rat's behind about US protests (conveyed through "diplomatic" means) on this issue?
Its same as an older incident a few years ago, which you may remember. France tested a nuclear device some where in the middle of Pacific ocean. US was agitated... "oh, you can't do that" yada yada yada. Did the French care? I doubt it. They said they had to test it, so they did it in international waters, and the rest can just STFU. Not exactly in those words, ofcourse.
I think this does help china. GPS guided weopons can be used irrespective of how bad the visibility is. Zero visibility or not, it can be used. Whereas TV guided or Laser guided, good visibility of the target is an important parameter!.
There was a push by Russians and Chinese a while back to get the US to sign a treaty which would prohibit weaponization of space… US said NO. I think, this is political move by China to let the US know the hard way. US has also tried developing the knetic kill vehicle but has failed so far in tests.
Now US has denied any measures to weaponize the space and maybe they will sign some type of agreement to limit chinese advacement in this area, which could be devastating for rest of the world not just USA in case of a wider conflict. (china vs india, china vs taiwan, china vs USA, etc.)
Don't forget or rule out Japan and Australia. Japan just formed their defense ministry and that means full speed ahead towards full time military force with offensive capability. And on top of that north koreans might just push Japan to make their own nukes... its spinning, just wait for it to hit the fan.
Point is, when US threatens Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Syria... they are just small fish. Can be coerced or sanctioned. Over there the hypocritical US policy is tolerated. When it comes to China, now US is playing with big boys. Do you think China gives a rat's behind about US protests (conveyed through "diplomatic" means) on this issue?
Its same as an older incident a few years ago, which you may remember. France tested a nuclear device some where in the middle of Pacific ocean. US was agitated... "oh, you can't do that" yada yada yada. Did the French care? I doubt it. They said they had to test it, so they did it in international waters, and the rest can just STFU. Not exactly in those words, ofcourse.
Other than the reasons you mentioned, there are couple of other reasons for US' statements:
Being a sole military super power it has to assert its dominance.
Keeping space free for exploration. One of the demands of the Chinese is that the space above China belong to China only just like territorial waters (oceans/seas) and sovereign air space. This could lead to all sorts of problmes for countries that do want to join the space exploration and send sattellites up like Pakistan.
The price that the rest of the world pays for a free space is the dominance of US' space weaponary; is it any different than the conventional military equation? Now, after this Chinese space weapon test, if the space borders are drawn, only a handful of countries can participate in the space age.
^^ well space above china or any other country can be its own and that will apply to only geo stitionary satellites. for spy and orbiting sats. then some sort of agreements would be required like aviation industry.
at present US spy on every one without being noticed.
There is no space jurisdiction, .. Taking out a sat is no big deal its old news. Chinese are known to blind US sats using high power lasers something US cannot do anything about. Its like shinning a high power beam in your eyes.