ASAT in the mass media -- a rogue's gallery of idiots

Here's my first nomination:

Why China's Missile Test Is Troubling

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...580595,00.html

"The development recalls the competition between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union two decades ago to be the first to develop an astral flyswatter
capable of blasting the other guy's satellites to smithereens. Moscow's was
crude, but effective: a lumbering orbiting nuclear warhead that would
detonate close to an enemy satellite. Washington came up with a finer
blueprint, trying to perfect what Pentagon officials called their "flying
tomato can," launched atop a missile flung from an F-15 fighter. "



I sent this 'letter to the editor' -- a waste of time, obviously:

"Simon Elegant and Mark Thompson's story on China's satellite smasher would
be more credible if they didn't, amazingly, claim that the Soviets had
developed a lumbering NUCLEAR warhead to be exploded next to target
satellites in space. Who's been watching too much Hollywood sci-fi and
repackaging it as 'news'? For shame -- get the basic facts straight before
you expect your readers to believe your opinions."

Jim Oberg wrote:
Here's my first nomination:

Why China's Missile Test Is Troubling

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...580595,00.html

"The development recalls the competition between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union two decades ago to be the first to develop an astral flyswatter
capable of blasting the other guy's satellites to smithereens. Moscow's was
crude, but effective: a lumbering orbiting nuclear warhead that would
detonate close to an enemy satellite. Washington came up with a finer
blueprint, trying to perfect what Pentagon officials called their "flying
tomato can," launched atop a missile flung from an F-15 fighter. "



I sent this 'letter to the editor' -- a waste of time, obviously:

"Simon Elegant and Mark Thompson's story on China's satellite smasher would
be more credible if they didn't, amazingly, claim that the Soviets had
developed a lumbering NUCLEAR warhead to be exploded next to target
satellites in space. Who's been watching too much Hollywood sci-fi and
repackaging it as 'news'? For shame -- get the basic facts straight before
you expect your readers to believe your opinions."

This is your cash cow, Jim. You need to work it.

Jim Oberg wrote:
I sent this 'letter to the editor' -- a waste of time, obviously:

"Simon Elegant and Mark Thompson's story on China's satellite smasher would
be more credible if they didn't, amazingly, claim that the Soviets had
developed a lumbering NUCLEAR warhead to be exploded next to target
satellites in space. Who's been watching too much Hollywood sci-fi and
repackaging it as 'news'? For shame -- get the basic facts straight before
you expect your readers to believe your opinions."


They seem to have confused it with FOBS.
Somewhere along the line Casaba Howitzer would be fun to discuss, as
well as our nuclear ASATS.
I wonder if the Soviets ever considered using Galosh or Taran as ASATS?
They both should have had the capability to destroy LEO satellites
without too much trouble.
BTW, I was just reading your update to the MSNBC story.
Some of the fragments reached 2,200 mile high orbits at apogee?
That must have been some ka-blam.
Or was FY-1C in a fairly eccentric orbit?
You might get a kick out of this, BTW:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8074859/
Time for a new book?
"The Celestial Empire" comes to mind.
Make sure to include the section on the early Taikonaut candidates
having to live off steamed bread, and the solid oak heatshields on their
early reconsats. :-D
(you know... actually that would make for one fascinating and oddball read).

Pat