• Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT's) are developed with the purpose of destroying satellites. The United States, China, and the Russian Federation have successfully tested anti-satellite missiles. Anti-satellite weapons are an emerging technology in response to the ever increasing militarization of space.

• Fast Facts

  1. Former Soviet Union began designing ASAT's in the 1950's
  2. China destroyed a defunct weather satellite on January 11, 2007
  3. Soviet Union is said to have created one in 1971
  4. Last U.S. testing was in 1985
  5. India claims to have ASAT's
  6. United States military shot down satellite February 20, 2008.

• Chinese Space Weapons

  On October 23, 2007, China launched its first orbiter around the moon. Chinese submarines tested a remote navigation system, that allowed the orbiter to change course based on signals sent from earth. The test sparked U.S. fears that China was attempting to develop a space weapon capable of destroying satellites.

• Space Treaty

  On February 12, 2008, Russia and China reported that they will present a treaty to The United Nations hoping to restrict the use of space weapons. The United States, which presumably leads the way in space technology, has maintained a stance against international regulation of space weapons.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Militarization of Space | Chinese Space Weapon | Nuclear Proliferation | Missile Defense System | NASA | Russian Federation | China | United States

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