Avatar photoChinese ASAT Likely Made Massive Debris

Aviation Week now has the story—with pretty much the same details that I’ve been hearing. FY-1C was struck by a direct ascent ASAT launched from Xichang Space Center at 5:28 p.m. EST on January 11. The satellite was approximately 850 km in altitude and 4 deg. west of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The NSC …

Avatar photoChinese Test ASAT?

I noticed this blurb on SEESAT today: I’ve been hearing murmurings around the community here in Washington that there may have been an extremely energetic event (satellite break-up?) in the last week or so in the LEO altitude range (700-1000 KM). “An enormous amount of debris” in the range of 1000 pieces may have been …

Avatar photoBetter Controls to Plan and Manage PSI

Classified GAO reports. I knew they existed, but this is one is one that ought to be declassified, at least summary form: Nonproliferation: Better Controls Needed to Plan and Manage Proliferation Security Initiative Activities. GAO-06-937C. September 28, 2006. About the only thing I know are two recommendations, as described in H.R. 1: (A) The Department …

Avatar photoNow approaching midnight

This is DJ Shadow. His “Midnight in a Perfect World” contains is one of many pop culture references to The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist’s “Doomsday Clock” that tracks the level of nuclear danger in the world. (Jeffrey adds: Paul is so money.) In a few days, The Bulletin will move the hands on the …