SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: bentway who wrote (491229)6/27/2009 6:40:08 PM
From: i-node  Read Replies (2) of 1574683
 
>>> By that logic, the Chinese have ABM capability, since they downed a satellite before we did.

Actually, the US shot down its own satellite as far back as 1985, so you probably want to strike the last half of the sentence.

There is relatively little known (at least publicly) about the shoot down by China. But your logic does not follow -- that China's ability to shoot down a satellite implies they have missile defense. When WE shot down a satellite in '85, WE didn't have. We simply used other techniques.

What makes the shootdown of USA-193 a significant event in terms of missile defense is that the same hardware (slightly modified), and the vast, vast majority of the same software were used as are present in one of our missile defense systems. And of course, when we talk about our missile defense system, we're talking about a plethora of alternative systems and technologies.

Another important point is that for the USA-193 shoot down to have been a success, the missile had to kinetically take out the hydrazine tank. Precisely. Not merely hit a solar panel or other area of the satellite. It had to be a direct hit for the object to be accomplished.

I don't know what capabilities China has but undoubtedly they are at this time behind us in this technology.

It is a matter of time, and probably not much.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News