So now China has the ability to knock out US satellites

[TankGirl]

Guardian:

China hails satellite killer - and stuns its rivals in space

China has given notice of its increasing power in space - and provoked widespread international concern - with a successful test of an anti-satellite weapon that could be used to knock out enemy surveillance and communications craft.

...

The test was especially troubling because it exposed the vulnerability of America's dependence on low-orbiting satellites, which are used for military communications, smart bombs and surveillance. In theory, last week's exercise could give Beijing the capability to knock out such satellites - a realisation that underlay the protests from Washington.

...

Despite yesterday's protests, the Bush administration has opposed a global ban on such tests, arguing that America needs to reserve its freedom of action in space. Arms control experts said it was not immediately clear whether the Chinese test was a ploy to try to press the Bush administration into a global weapons treaty, or whether China was asserting its own interests in space.

America may reserve its freedom of action in space, but China seems to appreciate similar freedom of action - and beyond protesting there is little US can do about it. These are important symbolic moments on China's way to become the leading superpower.

[albed]

So now China has the ability to knock out US satellites

So Japanese satellites are still safe? Weird. I hope they'll shoot down that ISS-moneypit.

[multi]

western running dog must now come to heel and stop yapping or have it's communications knocked out..

[RDixon]

It's about a bit more than killing spy satellites.
If you can hit and destroy a satellite in orbit, you can also hit and destroy an ICBM in flight.
Of course China probably, like the USA and Russia, set the test up so that failure would be unlikely.

So, what is it we are up to now?

Anti-anti-anti-anti-anti missles?

The insanity continues unabated.

[malvachat]

Originally Posted by RDixon

The insanity continues unabated.

Come on be fair,albed never said that much.

[multi]

omfg Mal ,how much is he paying you ?

it's always the same thing
albed ,albed ,albed
albed this , albed that

I will tell you something..
FUCK ALBED !
whtcha got ta say about that lot ?
eh?
eh ?
...eh ?

[malvachat]

It's easy that's why.


Your using bad language Multi.
Most unlike you.

[multi]

hahaha.. you see it's become too nicey ,nicey and chummy in this politacal asylum... we need more vitriol
and your social commentary does't help BTW !

[malvachat]

Originally Posted by multi

and your social commentary does't help BTW !

I do try to be nasty,I just can't do it.So I just take the piss instead.Some people are such easy targets.
They say the most stupid things and get themselves worked up into such a state.

[Mazer]

Originally Posted by RDixon

It's about a bit more than killing spy satellites.
If you can hit and destroy a satellite in orbit, you can also hit and destroy an ICBM in flight.

They're on their way to doing that, but even the US has only recently developed the technology to shoot down missiles in flight and we're still not very good at it. Objects in orbit are far easier to destroy than suborbital, supersonic rockets, especially after they Mirv. In practice China would use this weapon to knock out missile launch detection satellites in the days leading up to a full scale attack.

[floydian slip]

remember the series Salvage One with andy griffith(mid 80's)? he went into space with his junkyard parts spaceship and (illegaly)helped nasa manage space junk. thats prolly what china is doing LOL!!

either that or SPACE WAR IS COMING!!!!!

[Mazer]

Spacewar! One of the first video games ever made. (Requires two players)

Wikipedia article