China tests satellite-killer
Don't know if any of y'all have heard or read about this, but apparently China tested some sort of missile that took out one of their old weather satellites, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that China has a functional anti-satellite weapon in its arsenal.
According to experts, it was likely some sort of kinetic kill vehicle carried into orbit by a Chinese IRBM. Now given that China knew where the satellite was going to be, this hardly qualifies as a realistic test. However, we know they have rather sophisticated space tracking capabilities, so the possibility of the next one taking out an American satellite is not too hard to imagine.
Of course this test upset a few people, especially the United States. Given how much we rely upon satellites for guidance and communication, it's no wonder this development has sent people in Washington into a frenzy.
Well, it would seem they beat us to the punch in militarizing space. A few short months ago we turned down an offer by Russia and China to negotiate a weapons-free space treaty, saying we wanted to keep our options open.
I'm guessing no one in the Pentagon or White House thought that a successful Chinese weapons test was one of those options...
According to experts, it was likely some sort of kinetic kill vehicle carried into orbit by a Chinese IRBM. Now given that China knew where the satellite was going to be, this hardly qualifies as a realistic test. However, we know they have rather sophisticated space tracking capabilities, so the possibility of the next one taking out an American satellite is not too hard to imagine.
Of course this test upset a few people, especially the United States. Given how much we rely upon satellites for guidance and communication, it's no wonder this development has sent people in Washington into a frenzy.
Well, it would seem they beat us to the punch in militarizing space. A few short months ago we turned down an offer by Russia and China to negotiate a weapons-free space treaty, saying we wanted to keep our options open.
I'm guessing no one in the Pentagon or White House thought that a successful Chinese weapons test was one of those options...
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we turned it down because we knew that China and Russia wouldn't abide by its terms but we, being an open and democratic and law-bound society, would. It was simply their attempt to take us out of the race so that they could monopolize it. 0 -
But why should we worry? China is our friend, right? We buy billions of $$ in products from our friends, knowing they are massively upgrading their military with said dollars. Surely they would NEVER use this military upgrade against their best friend the US, would they? 0 -
Thank you once again Bill Clinton for your enlightened gift of advanced technology to the chicoms. You were indeed a visionary.[:(][:(][:(!][:(!] 0 -
We already have anti satellite capabilities. The F-15E Strike Eagle was originally developed as a satellite killer, its just a little more PC to use it for ground attack. I guess Reagan was right about the whole "Star Wars" thing. 0 -
quote:Well, it would seem they beat us to the punch in militarizing space.
How can it be "militarizing space" ????
I mean, you said it yourself - they did it with an IRBM.
So the correct term would be, that they have the means to reach into space - they haven't militarized space.
And what do you have to loose ?
Afraid of loosing a few spy satellites, eh ??0 -
Just what we need, more debris circling the earth. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Lowrider
Just what we need, more debris circling the earth.
That's what I was thinking.0 -
Ive said it, and I've said it. Freetrade with china is going to screw us in the end. Do you reckon, it was our freetrade policy with them, and our coporations going there, taking equipment, and technology there that made this possible for china? Is it possible that machinery that U.S citizens once used to produce parts made the parts for this missle? Could they have stole a little technology from U.S. companies that are now there in china producing things for the cheap labor? Now all the coporate apologist will take over I'm sure, and tell me how foolish I am. 0 -
You know, someone could get rich picking up all those dead satellites and other junk floating up there; heard they used a lot of gold, platinum and other precious metals to make that stuff.
Andy Griffith in the movie "Space Junk" was way ahead of his time....0 -
It would cost you more to go get it than the stuff is worth. 0 -
That's what they told Andy Griffith in the movie!
He went anyway and snagged a whole lotta stuff, brought it back and made a lotta money!
I bet somebody does it -- and I hope it's us.0 -
With that capability they could bring us to our knees. Much of our high tech capabilities are dependant on GPS technology - not to mention almost 100% of our communications abilities.
... be back to 1930's radio communication for us![:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by TexasVet
That's what they told Andy Griffith in the movie!
He went anyway and snagged a whole lotta stuff, brought it back and made a lotta money!
I bet somebody does it -- and I hope it's us.
Regardless of what renowned astrophysicist Andy Griffith has to say about it, that "stuff" doesn't stay in orbit forever. Nothing does on it's own. There's several dozen factors at work that guarantee that the orbit of any given object will destabilize eventually (some sooner than others) and carry it into Earth's atmosphere, where it's destroyed.
That's what happened to Mir, Skylab, and about 14 derelict civilian satellites over the last 30 years.0 -
Fatboy,
quote: Ive said it, and I've said it. Freetrade with china is going to screw us in the end. Do you reckon, it was our freetrade policy with them, and our coporations going there, taking equipment, and technology there that made this possible for china? Is it possible that machinery that U.S citizens once used to produce parts made the parts for this missle? Could they have stole a little technology from U.S. companies that are now there in china producing things for the cheap labor? Now all the coporate apologist will take over I'm sure, and tell me how foolish I am.I'm not sure they used American technology to develop this weapon since Europe is practically giving it away to them.
nemesis,
That thought had entered my mind.[;)]0 -
What happens when China is super rich, militarily very strong, has a huge army, and realizes that they are out of space in their own country? Certainly they'd do nothing now, but when their existence in on the line? Add to that the fact that we are too PC to use the appropriate force to deal with rouge nations. 0 -
slipgate,
90% of the Chinese population currently resides on 10% of their land. Chances are they're not going to be running out of land any time soon.
As for what happens when they're militarily and economically powerful? Well, short of nuking them for embracing free market economics like we told them (them beating us at our own game was never explicitly prohibited), we'll simply have to live with it. Their destiny was never ours to control.0 -
Right fatboy. Free trade is a joke. The worker (bulk of the pop) in China and other countries on the F.T. list send their products over here by the boat load. How many of them can afford to buy a Buick? 0 -
It's the 22nd satellite China has shot. The other 21 were lasered. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
Well, it would seem they beat us to the punch in militarizing space.
Not to diminish the technological advances made by the Chinese, but I'd say no on this. Defense Secrets do exist, and rightfully so.
There is a space problem in China. There are good reasons for the sparse population in some large areas, as some regions can't support big numbers, the Gobi immediately comes to mind.0 -
You'd be a fool to think we have any secrets that China doesn't know about. 0 -
Dak To,
There's large portions that would not be suitable for large scale habitation in the United States were it not for technology. Las Vegas and Los Angeles come to mind.[;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by royc38
Thank you once again Bill Clinton for your enlightened gift of advanced technology to the chicoms. You were indeed a visionary.[:(][:(][:(!][:(!]
Didn't the Pentagon and the Congress go along with President Clinton?0 -
Actually, the State Dpt. stopped China from buying the bulk of state-ot-the-art machinery from the sale of Douglas Aircraft here in Tulsa...and Clinton overruled them and allowed it.
However..all the presidents men and their hores have been sucking on chinese teats for many years...busily selling America out to the highest bidder.
All you supporters of the Democrat and Republican parties share equally in the honor of working to destroy America...for it is coming as sure as the sunrise tomorrow.
"China is our friend" is all I heard for years...guese why our military is nearly hysterical over this latest move by 'friendly China"..0 -
Higball,
They're hysterical because another nation finally decided that they could no longer rely upon America's good intentions and is looking towards military self-sufficiency.
The question must be asked: if pacifism is detrimental to America and will only induce our enemies to attack us, then why should a pacifistic defense policy keep China safe?
China's asserting itself and nothing's going to stop it. Up until the mid-1800's, China was responsible for a quarter of the world's economy. China's current rise is not it emerging onto the world stage as a superpower, it's China resuming her historical place in the world affairs.0 -
ElMuertoMonkey;
Given the garbage Democrats you support;
Given the garbage Republicans your adversaries on GB support;
Of course, China has a right to be worried....as does ANY intelligent American.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
Dak To,
There's large portions that would not be suitable for large scale habitation in the United States were it not for technology. Las Vegas and Los Angeles come to mind.[;)]
True.
Los Angeles is habitable?0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
You'd be a fool to think we have any secrets that China doesn't know about.
You give our guys too little respect. The U.S. is THE tehnological wonder of all history, and to assume it's most valuable science, particularlly that which has military significance, is "leaked" to a foreign nation, is to me, too big a stretch. Hope I'm right.0 -
Dak To 68;
Remember a spy plane that landed behind enemy lines a few years ago ? That plane SHOULD have been ditched at sea by the crew...and lacking that, a smart bomb SHOULD have been used on plane and contents..including a cowardly crew.
Just one small example...most of the high tech stuf is given away or SOLD by those that lead you...including GUIDED TOURS of our most sensitive areas by enemies of America....by your sold-out leaders.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Highball
Dak To 68;
Remember a spy plane that landed behind enemy lines a few years ago ? That plane SHOULD have been ditched at sea by the crew...and lacking that, a smart bomb SHOULD have been used on plane and contents..including a cowardly crew.
Just one small example...most of the high tech stuf is given away or SOLD by those that lead you...including GUIDED TOURS of our most sensitive areas by enemies of America....by your sold-out leaders.
And don't forget our erstwhile ally, Israel, busy selling our equipment to all comers.0
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