If they are going to do it, we will too.

[ASU2003]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7248995.stm

It didn't take me that long to figure out why the US would shoot down a satellite that would be unlikely to cause any damage. We have shot stuff down before, but not in 23 years. However if you remember a year ago, China shot down one of their satellites in a test.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...011801029.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6289519.stm

[pan6467]

Originally Posted by ASU2003

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7248995.stm

It didn't take me that long to figure out why the US would shoot down a satellite that would be unlikely to cause any damage. We have shot stuff down before, but not in 23 years. However if you remember a year ago, China shot down one of their satellites in a test.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...011801029.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6289519.stm

I think it could be both ways.

Let's look at a hypothetical paranoidal situation:

We send up a spysat carrying a massive amount of Hydrazine. Now let's say in the near future we felt threatened by Iran/China etc. We announced a while ago that it was out of control, so if it fell into orbit and "accidentally" fell on the country we were having a problem with and released the gas.... we weren't at fault it was uncontrolled. (Meanwhile, all along "they" (the US intelligence) did have control of it but the country and everyone around the world buys into the accident except the "nutty conspiracy theorists" who no one listens to.

But now, perhaps it truly is uncontrollable and "they" don't want to run the risk of it landing here or in a friendly zone. So why not shoot it dwn and kill 2 birds with one stone.

Or the shoot down could be a ploy and "oops we missed.... sorry Iran/China/etc.).

Is any of it:

Paranoid? Yes.

Probable? Absolutely not.

Possible? Absolutely YES.

[sprocket]

This wired article has some more insight on this who issue:

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/0...rationale.html

....

My real concern is that this is simply a knee-jerk reaction made by the Administration in response to the purported threat by the Chinese. Since the April 2007 ASAT [anti-satellite] test, there have been rumors and whispers going around that the Administration and like-minded individuals are looking for more sticks (instead of carrots) to use against China. While this "shoot down" is not a direct action against China, it would be a clear signal that the US can possess an active ASAT capability at any time if it so desires. That is a serious development as the previous US ASAT system using F-15s was mothballed in the 1980's.

There are many significant political ramifications that would happen as a result of this. The US has been berating the Chinese on their ASAT test but now demonstrate that it is okay as long as it occurs at a low enough altitude to prevent long-lasting debris and can "save lives". This is close to an implied "ok" for the US and other nations to conduct more ASAT tests, which could open another arms race. I am also certain that Russian and China would also see this as a slap in the face as they are trying to revive the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space treaty discussion and ban on space weapons. It would further negatively affect the relations between them and the US. Which could lead to increased tensions, arms buildup, etc etc etc. Nothing good for anyone outside of arms manufacturers and politicians that need a bogeyman to scare people into voting for them.

...

I honestly dont have expertise to comment either way, but its interesting food for thought.

[Cynthetiq]

If this is any discussion thread, and especially a politics thread, you should know better than to just dangle a link and no basis for starting a discussion. Rework the OP and then contact a staff member to reopen the thread.