Protecting the Heavens

<p>On 11 January 2007 the People's Republic of China successfully flight tested an antisatellite (ASAT) weapon against one of their own weather satellites obliterating the satellite and creating thousands of pieces of dangerous debris in low earth orbit. China's flight test brought the world's attention to China's ASAT capabilities and resulted in a variety of US domestic responses. Renewed cries for treaties banning space weapons were heard and calls for the development of US counterspace capabilities began to materialize among military professionals. This singular but significant strategic event raises important questions: Does the United States need to revise its space policies and strategies in light of China's developing ASAT space capability? And if so what is an optimum strategy? These questions are not easy to answer and fraught with ramifications for US national security. Overestimating China's capabilities or misunderstanding their intentions could cause the United States to unnecessarily expend resources protecting U.S space systems. Conversely underestimating the threat could result in the degradation or loss of US space systems in time of war or crisis significantly hindering US military power. This paper will examine China's ASAT weapons programs and possible intentions. Based on this exploration of China's ASAT programs the paper will evaluate potential US strategies employing diplomatic informational military and economic instruments of national power to influence decisions important to US national security.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>