So it seems that the US is kicking up a stink about the Chinese using an anti-satellite missile to blow up their own satellite. Whilst somewhat irresponsible to put more shrapnel into orbit, it should be remembered that the US tested its anti-satellite missiles back in the 1960s (and actually shot one down in 1983), and is planning its own dominance of space. The US’s National Space Policy states (as of October 2006):
‘Consistent with this policy, 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 U.S. national interests.’”
Interestingly enough, whilst Googling stuff for this post I discovered this piece “Too high the moon” by Science Fiction writer Norman Spinrad about Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven (both also Science Fiction authors), and their influence on Reagan era space policy that gave us Star Wars. (The missile defence shield concept is still being used to annoy the Russians, this time by deploying systems to guard against missiles from Iran).
Of course orbiting space junk may be all that’s left of us after we’re all boiled together in our own global warming pot.
