Chapter 1246 Don’t say it’s unpredicted
In fact, as early as the mid-to-late 1980s, China had already realized the huge role that satellites can play in modern warfare.
However, due to limited national strength, it is difficult to build a large-scale and fully functional artificial satellite network like the United States and the Soviet Union in a short period of time.
Therefore, while vigorously developing satellite technology, we have also begun to explore the feasibility of various anti-satellite weapons -
Similar to the imagination in some science fiction literary works, China back then, There has indeed been an idea of "bringing the opponent's informatization level to the same level as one's own and then relying on rich experience to defeat them."
Of course, ideas are ideas.
It was quickly discovered that the difficulty of intercepting a spacecraft and launching a spacecraft were not at the same level at all.
Compared to knocking down all the enemy's satellites, it is more feasible to build a satellite network yourself.
In addition, China's satellite and rocket technology made a series of breakthroughs in the mid-1990s, so the focus was also determined to be a series of positioning, communication and remote sensing constellations.
However, as a covert measure, the line of satellite interception has not been completely abandoned.
Among the final technology verification models, one is a high-energy laser used for blinding and jamming, and the other is the "kinetic energy" series of anti-satellite weapons that the chief just mentioned.
According to the plan, the latter is expected to conduct its first test before 2007-2008.
But there is still a problem here.
The international environment in the 21st century is no different than in the past.
No matter how much everyone disagrees in private, at least on the surface, the peaceful use of space has become an international consensus.
China is already relatively weak in the aerospace field, and is currently at a critical stage of striving for space cooperation.
Hastily conducting an anti-satellite test under this background can easily teach others what to do and trigger a collective backlash from the outside world.
And if it is true, as stated in this report, that the other party's interception plan may produce space debris that is enough to endanger the safety of the spacecraft, then China will have a lot of room for maneuver.
Although this series of weapons is called the "Kinetic Energy" series, it is indeed extremely difficult to accurately send the kinetic energy interceptor into a high orbit and ensure that it can hit the target head-on.
So in order to ensure the success rate of the first mission, the Kinetic Energy-1 actually carries a fragmentation warhead for directional blasting.
Regardless of success or failure, it is bound to create hundreds or thousands of space junk.
If the United States is allowed to bear the impact of this series of public opinion first, the disturbance caused will be much smaller.
Don’t ask, NASA did it first.
This is certainly not fair.
But that’s reality.
In addition, the currently planned interception target is a Fengyun 1C meteorological satellite that has long since reached its end of life. Its orbital altitude has reached an astonishing 870km, which is not an ideal interception target.
It is just a compromise choice made based on the actual capabilities and deterrence effect in the absence of reference.
Now that the Americans themselves want to set a benchmark, they can make adjustments based on their interception situation.
This is why the chief asked Li Zhongyi to vaccinate relevant personnel after returning, indicating that mission requirements may change.
……
at the same time.
The press conference held by NASA was like a depth bomb thrown into the sea. After a few days of delay, a powerful storm of public opinion finally formed.
In North America, people's attention is basically focused on the grand "return to the moon" plan.
After all, after the explosion of the Columbia space shuttle in 2003, the United States' aerospace development entered a relatively long-term low ebb stage.
Especially six months after the accident, China conducted a perfect manned space flight debut.
The live broadcast of the signal in the cabin, which lasted for nearly half an hour, left a very deep impression on the world.
Where is this showing off technology?
It’s basically a slap in NASA’s face.
As a result, some countries that were originally hesitant to promote cooperation with China in the aerospace field are beginning to get ready to do so.
Although driven by the current head of NASA, Michael Griffin, the Space Shuttle Discovery returned to space in July 2005, ending the embarrassing situation in which the United States was unable to send astronauts into space independently.
But after all this trouble, the retirement of the space shuttle has become a foregone conclusion.
Part of the media under the control of the Donkey Party took the opportunity to attack, attacking the Elephant Party’s weakness and inaction in the field of space exploration at length, and cited various alarmist figures to prove that the United States was in the aerospace field. Unsatisfactory performance.
Of course this is essentially building momentum for the 2008 election, but such overwhelming denigration and criticism will naturally affect public confidence in NASA and even the entire United States.
At this juncture, the "return to the moon" plan is nothing short of a shot in the arm.
Including a new generation of manned exploration vehicles called the Orion spacecraft, and the Space Launch System (SLS) planned to replace the space shuttle, with a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of up to 143 tons and a total launch weight of nearly 3,000 tons. .
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, these two projects seem to pay tribute to the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn 5 launch vehicle 40 years ago, regardless of their purpose or performance.
That is the peak era that most Americans miss the most. Under the momentum of another part of the media, the slogan of returning to the moon quickly became a new symbol, bound to American aerospace and even the development curve of the United States——
Aerospace What if the aircraft is retired?
What if we can only rely on Russian spacecraft to get to the space station for the time being?
We will soon be targeting the moon again, and even conquering Mars!
However, in comparison, outside the United States, especially the aerospace authorities of other countries, are still paying more attention to the satellite interception plan.
On the one hand, this is not the first time Americans have landed on the moon.
On the other hand, the plan to return to the moon was implemented more than ten years later.
That's really too far away.
And politics only concerns survival until Friday afternoon.
In comparison, shooting down a satellite with Standard 3 obviously has a greater impact.
You know, the last time a direct-ascent kinetic energy anti-satellite weapon system was tested was in 1985 at the peak of the Cold War.
Now that something like this suddenly happens again, it is difficult not to recall the era shrouded by the Iron Curtain.
What's more, even from the perspective of watching the excitement, it's not too big a deal.
Competition in the field of manned spaceflight is equivalent to a race, while competition in ballistic missiles and anti-missile systems is equivalent to boxing.
Obviously the latter is more intense.
Therefore, after the "Daily Mail" took the lead in publicly linking China's missile test and the United States' anti-satellite interception test, almost all the media in the world began to try to contact the China Space Administration. Wanted to find out how the Pacific West Coast reacted to this.
However, no matter whether it was an email, a letter or a phone call, all of them were like nothing, and no response was received.
The British media group even tentatively published a piece of news in its non-serious tabloid "The Daily Star" about "the ancient Eastern power has given in to this round of competition." Trying to provoke a reaction from China by provoking generals.
But perhaps because the audience of Star Newspaper is similar to that of Sun Newspaper, and they only care about whether the models on the page are bulging forward or backward, so it didn't attract much attention at all.
Naturally they did not get the effect they wanted.
Until a few days later.
Chinese defense agencies held a rare press conference.
Nominally, it is to prepare for the upcoming establishment of the Information Affairs Bureau and the regular press conference system.
But almost all the more professional media realized immediately that this move must be related to the information previously disclosed by NASA.
As a result, the media that applied to participate were like crucian carp crossing the river, so that China had to adjust the venue twice in a row to cope with the enthusiasm that far exceeded expectations...
However, Perhaps because it was the first time, Colonel Wei Jun, the spokesman who hosted the reception, was still a little reluctant to let go.
For several rounds, the selected reporters were all from China or friendly media that already had cooperative relations.
Of course it was not convenient for them to ask some too sharp questions, which resulted in the atmosphere of the entire reception becoming conservative.
Fortunately, in the end.
It was the British media and the Daily Mail that took the lead in breaking the deadlock.
"Dear Mr. Spokesperson."
The British reporter stood up and asked Wei Jun standing on the stage:
"Just last week, NASA just It was announced that the United States will use a sea-based anti-missile interception system to carry out an anti-satellite mission in the next month to prevent failed satellites from falling into the atmosphere and threatening human settlements. How does your country view this news? "
Hearing this question, Wei Jun couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Master.
Absolutely a master.
The "sea-based anti-missile interception system" was specifically mentioned in the question, and the subject of the whole matter was transferred from the aerospace field to the military field without any trace, so that he must give a positive answer to this.
Fortunately, today I made dumplings just for the vinegar.
Superiors have long given a standard answer to this.
“We have noticed this action by the United States and will continue to pay close attention to it.”
“Here, what I need to note in particular is that despite NASA’s claim that this The behavior does not contain military considerations, and the disposal target is a satellite launched by the United States itself. However, according to our assessment and calculations, according to the interception plan disclosed by the United States, the impact is likely to be unable to cause the entire satellite to fall into the Earth as planned. atmosphere, but produces space debris that is enough to threaten normal spacecraft.”
“Outer space is a common wealth belonging to all mankind, so we believe that it is necessary for countries around the world to make it clear before the test begins. Recognize this risk, fully solicit the opinions of the international community, comprehensively consider various possibilities and plans, and do our best to ensure the safety of both the earth's surface and the outer atmosphere..."
"..."
"If the United States continues to act arbitrarily and against the wishes of the majority of countries and people around the world, any consequences will be borne by NASA and relevant parties. Don't say it was unforeseen..."
( End of chapter)