11 January 2007 ASAT Weapon Test

	The KT-1 solid-propellant SLV on the launch pad at the Taiyuan space and missile centre (Chinese Internet)

Aviation Weeks and Space Technology magazine first reported on 17 January 2007 that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had carried out a successful ASAT weapon test on 11 January, destroying a retired polar orbit meteorological satellite FengYun-1C. This was the first known ASAT test in more than 20 years. On 23 January, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao officially confirmed for the first time that a test had been carried out but insisted China was committed to the "peaceful development of outer space". The test has brought intensive media attention and also sparked concerns from the governments of the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

According to the report by Aviation Weeks and Space Technology magazine, the ASAT test was carried out on 11 January 2007 (12 January local time). A modified ballistic missile (or space launch vehicle) carrying a kinetic kill vehicle was launched from an unknown location near Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC). The kill vehicle successfully intercepted and destroyed the FY-1C satellite orbiting at about 530 miles (853km) polar orbit. The attack occurred at about 17:26 EST on 11 January 2007 (22:26 GMT, 06:26 on 12 January local time), when the satellite was passing over central China, about 45 degree above the horizon at Xichang. Tracking of the target satellite was managed from the Xi’an Satellite Monitor & Control Centre.

According to the report, the azimuth from the launch point to the target was about 346 degree, or 15 degree west of due north. The target in orbit was heading south, so the intercept involved an extremely high-velocity, nearly head-on collision. Tracking data indicated that debris from the impact was ejected in all directions at 700~1,400mph. The event occurred 94 minutes before sunrise at Xichang, but the target satellite was in sunlight, enabling excellent opportunities to monitor the event from both Xichang and Jiuquan. USAF Defence Support Program missile warning satellites in geosynchronous orbit detected the Xichang launch of the ASAT kill vehicle, and USAF Space Command radars monitored the FY-1C orbit both before and after the test.

The KT-1 solid-propellant SLV was derived from the DF-31 ICBM introduced in the late 1990s (Chinese Internet)

Dubbed the SC-19 by American intelligence, the Chinese anti-satellite weapon consists of a solid-fuel space launch vehicle (SLV) carrying an interceptor that is designed to crash into enemy satellites. The SLV is thought to be a model of the KaiTuoZhe (KT) series all-solid-propellant booster developed by China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC), allegedly based on the DF-21 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The four-stage KT-1 has been launched twice but none successful. A second model, reportedly designated KT-409, was said to have been developed for the ASAT weapon programme. The four-stage KT-1 has the capability to place a 50kg payload into 600km low earth orbit (LEO). The larger-size KT-2 in development has the capability to deliver 300kg payload into the geosynchronous or polar orbit. The heavier KT-2A, which is also in development, has an increased payload of 400kg for polar orbit missions.

The SLV can be launched from a truck-based transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) platform, without the need for a fixed launch facility. Thus the SLV can be pre-positioned anywhere in the country to intercept a flying-over satellite. As the mobile SLV system is very difficult to detect, it leaves the targeted side very little time for early warning and response.

Debate over the effectiveness of the Chinese kinetic kill vehicle remains. While some described the test as the world’s first direct ground-to-space anti-satellite attack (the U.S. test in 1985 was carried out with a missile launched from a F-15 fighter), others suggested that the test was no more than a staged showcase, since the launch of the missile was carefully timed and the satellite’s orbit was being raised by about 20 miles (32km) shortly before the test to make it easier to intercept. Also at low earth orbit (LEO), the missile can rely on ground-based radar for target tracking and final course corrections. However, at higher orbit, especially at geosynchronous orbit (GEO), it is almost impossible to use ground-based radar for such a role.

Some experts also suggested that satellites can make ASAT attack much more difficult by lowering their radar reflectivity or optical brightness along the attacker's expected line of approach. Another defence method is to use decoys, which can either be deployed when an attack is detected or can be sent, as a matter of routine, to fly in formation with the high-value target. When used in conjunction, satellite would eventually be able to protect themselves from a kinetic kill attack.

Last update: 18 February 2009