China Tests Anti-Satellite Laser Weapon

schnippy writes "U.S. intelligence agencies believe that China has successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon by destroying one of their old weather satellites. The test, if confirmed, would be an order of magnitude more provocative than earlier reports of Chinese blinding lasers being. Arms Control Wonk has a good writeup on what this will mean for U.S. policy."

Comments

LASER weapon?

[hasmael]

From TFA: " ...weather satellite target with a kinetic kill vehicle launched on board a ballistic missile"

That doesn't sound like a LASER weapon.

not a laser

[kae_verens]

from the article: "destroying an aging Chinese weather satellite target with a kinetic kill vehicle launched on board a ballistic missile."

Lasers are not kinetic weapons. They are light-based.

The topic-writer appears to have been confused by the article mentioning that an earlier test used a laser to temporarily brighten a satellite.

Re:Funny that we should view this as "provocative"

[teh kurisu]

The simple fact is, the US policy is not about a hegemony, nor is it about denying anyone else access.

That's exactly what the policy is about. From the BBC:

"The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space... and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US national interests."

Translation: we reserve the right to put weapons in space, and we will deny you the right to do so. Good on China for creating an intelligent solution! Hope they patented it.