China Rejects US Proposal To Ban Anti-Satellite Weapons Testing In Space

Destructive anti-satellite missile tests generate huge amounts of space debris that can endanger other satellites and manned spacecraft. Photo: Atalayar  

SCMP: China slams US call to ban anti-satellite missile tests as 'fake arms control' 

Beijing on Wednesday accused a US proposal to ban anti-satellite weapons testing in space of promoting "fake arms control" and "real military expansion". 

In a working paper submitted to the United Nations last week, the European Union said it planned to join a US proposal to prohibit the destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles (ASAT). 

The endorsement by the 27 EU member nations - most of them Nato allies - brings the total number of supporting countries to 35. 

The EU statement comes ahead of a meeting by a UN working group on reducing space threats in Geneva next week to discuss on-orbit safety.  

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WNU Editor: The two essential ingredients for any arms control treaty to succeed are "trust and verify". Because of broken US promises over Taiwan and US trade measures targeting China, Beijing no longer trusts any proposal coming out of the Biden administration. Hence no deal on an anti-satellite missile test ban.

Russia Warns NATO It Can Obliterate Its Satellites With Its New 'Star Warrior' Technology

Russian state TV last night claimed its new 'Star Warrior' anti-satellite missile technology could be used to render the West's GPS-guided missiles useless. It warned Moscow could destroy 32 Nato satellites and 'blind all their missiles, planes and ships, not to mention the ground forces  

Daily Mail: Russia warns it can destroy NATO satellites - rendering missiles useless - as White House says it has 'serious concerns' about military build-up near Ukraine – but Putin's spy agency dismisses US 'hysteria' 

* State TV claimed new anti-satellite missiles could destroy 32 Nato satellites 

* ASAT missiles would 'blind all their missiles, planes, ships and ground forces' 

* Warning comes as 94,000 Russian troops have been sent to Ukrainian border 

* White House said it had 'serious concerns' and shared maps of possible invasion 

Russia has warned it can obliterate Nato satellites with its new 'Star Warrior' technology to render the West's GPS-guided missiles useless in the latest provocation in its stand-off with Ukraine. 

State TV last night claimed Moscow's anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles could destroy 32 Nato satellites and 'blind all their missiles, planes and ships, not to mention the ground forces.'  

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Update #1: STAR WARS Inside Putin’s ‘Star Warrior’ weapon as Russia threatens to destroy 32 Nato satellites to cripple missile systems -- The SUN  

Update #2: Russia sends terrifying NATO warning as 32 assets put on high alert: 'Serious concerns' -- Express  

WNU Editor: Destroying most (if not all) critical satellites in space will creeate a debris will hurt everyone. Russia included.

Russia Confirms That It Conducted An Anti-Satellite Missile Test

 

Daily Mail: Russia CONFIRMS it blew up one of its own satellites with a missile but denies the test was dangerous and accuses US of hypocrisy as NATO condemns 'reckless act' and generals warn debris could be a risk for 'decades' 

* Russian MoD confirms it blew up one of its own satellites during a missile test 

* Cosmos 1408, a defunct spy satellite, was destroyed Monday test, the MoD said 

* Moscow denied debris from the explosion had ever threatened the International Space Station and accused US of hypocrisy for starting the space arms race 

* Astronauts aboard ISS were told to shelter in escape pods for two hours 

Monday amid fears debris from the blast could strike the station Russia has confirmed that it blew up one of its own satellites using a missile, marking the country's first complete test of the technology. 

Cosmos 1408, a defunct spy satellite launched in 1982, was destroyed during a test which took place on Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defence said today.  

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WNU Editor: A lot of experts disagree with the Kremlin's assertion that this test will not jeopardize other satellites .... Russia satellite destruction put ISS at greater risk: ESA official (France 24). More here .... Space debris from Russian anti-satellite test will be a safety threat for years (Space.com) 

As for the test itself. Russian media is saying that the test was a success .... New Russian system being tested hit old satellite with "goldsmith’s precision" — Shoigu (TASS). More here .... Russia’s top brass reports on successfully striking defunct satellite in tests (TASS). 

More News On Russia Confirming That It Conducted An Anti-Satellite Missile Test  

Russia confirms testing anti-satellite missiles -- RT  

Russia rejects accusations of endangering ISS astronauts -- AP  

Russian anti-satellite missile test poses no threat - Moscow -- BBC  

Russia admits to anti-satellite missile test but denies ‘dangerous behavior’ -- The Guardian  

Russia calls U.S. ‘hypocritical’ for condemning anti-satellite weapons test -- CNBC  

Russia confirms anti-satellite missile test, dismisses U.S. space debris concerns -- NBC 

Russia denies endangering International Space Station astronauts with missile test, accuses US of hypocrisy -- ABC News Australia  

Russia accuses US of hypocrisy over satellite destruction -- DW  

Russia comments on risks of space missile tests -- RT

China Launches Anti-Satellite Weapon Into Space

China launched the Shijian 21 satellite into orbit on Sunday (pictured), saying it will test technology to clear space debris - the same tech the US warns can destroy other satellites 

Daily Mail: Now China launches possible 'satellite-crushing weapon' as President Xi calls on military to 'break new ground' in arms development following hypersonic nuke test 

* China launched Shijian 21 satellite into space Sunday aboard Long March rocket 

* Beijing said satellite will test technology aimed at 'neutralising space debris' 

* Washington warns the same technology can be used to take out other satellites 

* At a separate military conference after the launch, Xi Jinping called on scientists to 'break new ground' in developing weapon technology 

China has launched a new craft into space that the US warns could be a satellite-crushing weapon. 

Beijing blasted the Shijian 21 satellite into orbit on Sunday aboard a Long March rocket, saying the mission will test 'technologies to... neutralise space debris'. 

But Washington says the same technology can be used to 'grapple' and destroy other satellites and is part of China's strategy to achieve 'superiority through space-attack systems'. 

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More News On China's Anti-Satellite Program  

China launches suspected anti-satellite weapon into space -- Washington Times  

Chinese scientists build weapon that can cause satellites to explode -- Asia News Day/SCMP  

China Develops Anti-Satellite Weapon -- Defense Post  

China Says Its New ASAT Missile Can Not Only ‘Melt Down’ Enemy Satellites But Also Capture Them In Orbit -- EurAsian Times 

Biden humiliated as China uncovers terrifying weapon to silently wipe out space assets -- Express 

If China Tested a New Orbital Weapon, It’s Not Much of a Surprise -- Economic Times/NYTimes