China's Space Program News Thread

[Dongfeng]

Re: chinese satelittes

There has been speculation on Chinese Internet that the BD navigation satellite lauched on 03/02 is not working properly. The power unit onboard the satellite failed to start. This has not been confirmed yet but I guess that the ground control is trying whatever they can to fix the problem, though looking at previous similar failure the chance is very slim.

If this is true, it would be two satellite failure in a row after the failed DFH-4 last year

 

[Schumacher]

Re: chinese satelittes

It seems as China moves to a new generation of indigenous sats, it's now experiencing multiple failures. Similar to what their launch vehicles experienced in the 90s. Hopefully, they'll learn & recover to achieve the reliability of the launch vehicles now.

 

[BLUEJACKET]

Re: chinese satelittes

It looks like they have killer satellites after all, not just missiles!-

CHINA’S SPACE WARFARE STRATEGY
Although ostensibly carried out for “peaceful purposes,” China’s unexpected January 11th anti-satellite interceptor test is causing growing concern in the United States. Defense News (February 5) reports that new details indicate that China’s secretive anti-satellite (ASAT) program is far broader and more sophisticated than originally understood. According to the industry weekly, the January test is now believed to have been preceded by at least one, and possibly two, other (unsuccessful) ASAT attempts. The test, and its obvious military implications, have brought into focus China’s practice of populating the atmosphere with spacecraft “in orbits that bring them close to key U.S. satellites” but which “don’t appear to be conducting any particular mission.”
A new paper commissioned by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, meanwhile, has confirmed suspicions about the likely focus of China’s growing space warfare capabilities. In the January 19th study, entitled “An Assessment of China’s Anti-Satellite and Space Warfare Programs, Policies and Doctrine,” China specialist Michael Pillsbury notes that a robust Chinese ASAT program, apparently designed specifically with the U.S. in mind and geared toward “preemptive strikes,” has been advocated in PLA military circles for at least a decade.
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[maozedong]

Re: chinese satelittes

I believe it, this saying already reported many years ago.
this report seems from US official authority, they reported China and Russia both research killer satellites long times.
that is why US produce space white page announced: US space right and adventage should be protected absolutely,if necessary US may stop the enemy country's satelittes enter into space.
after no longer China tested antisatelittes.include this time BD navigation sat launched, every body can see the space millitary contest already come.
should we discuss this in this thread? or go to another thread-- China test ASat?

 

[BLUEJACKET]

Re: chinese satelittes

ASAT and SATellites are the 2 sides of the same coin- but since that article talked about ASAT satellites I chose to post it here.

 

[David_Cameron]

Re: chinese satelittes

1. Chinese Satelittes are Chinese Combat Satelittes with Laserguns and, or Missiles ?

2. Have anothers the Nations if France, Japan, India, Canada, Russia, Australia or Great Britain Combat Satelittes with Laserguns and, or Missiles ?
The President of France has talke, say strange samething over it Iranian Missiles after 200 meters to will be destroyed before this of Iran air space leave !

 

[maozedong]

Re: chinese satelittes

1. Chinese Satelittes are Chinese Combat Satelittes with Laserguns and, or Missiles ?

2. Have anothers the Nations if France, Japan, India, Canada, Russia, Australia or Great Britain Combat Satelittes with Laserguns and, or Missiles ?
The President of France has talke, say strange samething over it Iranian Missiles after 200 meters to will be destroyed before this of Iran air space leave !

this time China test anti satelittes, widdly speculae is missiles with lasergun,but US military investigate autuority has no more detail report about this,you may watch China test ASAT thread,there are many disscustion talking about this.
about chinese combat satelittes whth lasergun that is killer satelittes which just we talked before.
except Russia,I don't think any country of above have the capability of comat satelittes with laserguns, about missiles with laserguns I am not sure France and UK have this capability or not, because this is their defence secret.India and Japan still poor missiles technology.Canada and Australia even have no this plan, I think.
Iran.... intresting.
any body like to make post more detail that is grateful.

 

[Schumacher]

Re: chinese satelittes

There has been speculation on Chinese Internet that the BD navigation satellite lauched on 03/02 is not working properly. The power unit onboard the satellite failed to start. This has not been confirmed yet but I guess that the ground control is trying whatever they can to fix the problem, though looking at previous similar failure the chance is very slim.

If this is true, it would be two satellite failure in a row after the failed DFH-4 last year

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It seems to be doing some orbital maneauvers right now. If there's any problem, doesn't look like it's with the power unit.

 

[Violet Oboe]

Re: chinese satelittes

Military rivalry in space is indeed heating up in recent years and the major powers US, Russia and China are stepping up their respective efforts for space dominance. The chinese ASAT tests are of certain relevance but Russia´s vigorous activities have been more successful in regard of establishing some kind of startegic counterweight against the mighty capabilities of US Spacecommand. The russian space forces have reestablished a fully functioning positioning system (GLONASS), several IMINT and ELINT satellite systems, mil comsat systems and also a functioning orbital early warning system (+ earth based counterpart) since 2001 and consequently Russia´s situational awareness and and freedom of action should not be underestimated.

In the final years of the cold war the USSR made strident efforts in total secrecy to counter SDI by developing a giant strategic satellite called POLYUS. After being brought into orbit by the mighty ENERGIJA launcher (more powerful than Saturn V, 130 ts LEO capacity) this 37 m long and 88 ts heavy orbital battle station would have employed nuclear space mines as main weapons and a radar controlled special gun for self defense. Unfourtunately the first and only test on 15 May 1987 was unsuccessfull since after a flawless lift off by Energija the orbital insertion maneuver went wrong and the big one crahed after one orbit into the south pacific (no nukes were actually on board in this first test). Although the USSR soon collapsed and also the whole SDI project faded into oblivion this episode illustrates how dangerous a military space race can become if there is no political will to limit an escalation. Battle sats with lasers and even nukes in low earth orbit are ultimate weapons able to destroy a whole nation in a couple of minutes and the potential for miscalculation on all sides (may be a threeway race between US, Russia and China is already emerging) is horrific. (A decade from now India may also be in a position to enter this struggle!)

Additionally making bad things worse there are currently several regional powers who are intent to develop indigenous spacelaunch capabilities: Brazil (three big explosions, the last killing 21 people have cooled their enthusiasm), South Korea (they have got russian tech of the ANGARA launcher, quite modern and effective!), North Korea (the Norks have made already two failed attempts), Pakistan (unclear whether China will assist them substantially) and of course Iran. The persians are working under a cloak of secrecy and disinformation but they will be probably the newest member in the space club absent a surprise by North Korea. The launch of a small iranian experimental sat is expected by some experts during ´07 making Iran after the USSR, US, France, Japan, China, UK, India and Israel only the ninth country able to orbit their own sats with their own launcher from their own base.

Iran will take great pride in achieving that feat as the first muslim country and her prestige will be enhanced but their capability will be quite modest for years to come; nevertheless more and more countries will have independent access to space and this fact will determine the evolving new global strategic landscape. China will have to watch out since India has better access to western tech and has to redouble her efforts if she wants to retain her position!

 

[Scratch]

Re: chinese satelittes

I don't think that chinese, or any other countries, current sats are equiped with lasers or missies. The implicatons would be disproportional. And those weapons systems are currently probably not yet small enough.

About that Iranien missiles and french president thing: In an informal press meeting, when the topic came to the threat a nuclear armed Iran would be, Chirac just made a lax statement because he didn't expect to be quoted there. He said something like: a nuclear Iran wouldn't be that dangerous to the international community because if it really should launch BMs then, these would be detected and the international communities military would pulverize Iran before it's own missiles leave it's airspace.
When it became public there was some confusion and Chirac restated that point and said no military action, but diplomany, no nukes for Iran pla pla pla ...

But: ff