The Warzone column of the US "Drive" website published an article on April 20, saying that the United States promised to end direct ascending anti-satellite weapons tests and called on foreign countries to join.
[The United States has used standard-3 missiles and air-launched ASM-135 missiles for anti-satellite tests]
Harbans, vice president of the United States and chairman of the first National Space Council, announced earlier this week the halt to U.S. direct ascending anti-satellite weapons tests.
Harris made the announcement on April 18 during a visit to The Vandenberg Space Force base in California. There have been previous indications that the U.S. government may be moving in this direction.
Us media said that anti-satellite weapons tests include the destruction of spacecraft or objects in orbit. In addition to having test value, it also signals to opponents that their space-based capabilities cannot be guaranteed. While the target of the test is usually a decommissioned satellite owned by the country conducting the test, or even a piece of space junk, the collateral damage that comes with it has the potential to be far-reaching.
[Harris declares U.S. ends direct rise anti-satellite weapons test and calls for foreign countries to join]
Harris mentioned this in her statement and expressed hope the U.S. would "lead by example."
[Russian anti-satellite test results detected by the US space agency, more debris was generated]
The U.S. military has also conducted destructive anti-satellite weapons tests in the past. This includes the destruction of the Solwind P78-1 solar observation satellite with asM-135 missiles in 1985 and the interception of the runaway spy satellite USA-193 with improved SM-3 missiles in 2008.
["Inspection satellite" means of dealing with target satellites]
The reality is that attacks on satellites are happening every day in an indirect way, including using smaller "inspection satellites" to get close to target satellites and perform some operations on them. Other options include firing projectiles at the target satellite from another satellite or even having the "inspection satellite" attached to the target satellite, disabling the target satellite or even deorbiting it. Satellites can also be temporarily disabled by ground interference and laser irradiation.
These abilities are exactly where "space warfare" is headed, and it is understood that, to some extent, major space players can now use these abilities. At present, for the United States, the world's most advanced space power, direct launch anti-satellite weapons are simply not necessary and will jeopardize its own capabilities and access to the entire low Earth orbit. In addition, the United States has alternatives to direct-lift-off anti-satellite weapons, all of which remain classified but have been heavily hinted at by senior officials on many occasions.
Author: Slightly fat
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