Russia fires satellite weapon in space

[Imagegear]

In a statement, the head of the UK's space directorate said: "We are concerned by the manner in which Russia tested one of its satellites by launching a projectile with the characteristics of a weapon."

Satellite Weapon (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53518238)

IG

[MPN11]

Is anyone surprised? Russia walks its own path, as does China. Two uncontrollable powers (or 3 if you count Trumpia).

[wiggy]

Nothing new under the Sun -

https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/soviet-space-cannon-in-orbit?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1

[tartare]

I love the current bun's headline lower down the story.
Tsar Wars... tee hee.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12206486/russia-secretly-tested-anti-satellite-weapon-space-us-command/

[A_Van]

After the US established its Space Command the need to find or invent any trace of hostile activity in space grew accordingly.

Looks like the current US administration is planning to deploy weapons in space and need to break one more treaty, as they did several times already (started with ABTM in 2002). And accusing the other side seems to be the only way for them. Boring old stuff...

Accusing Russia that "a space object of unknown purpose separated from a satellite" is laughable. Even if (just an assumption) it is an inspector-type satellite, they appeared in 70's on both sides, nothing new.

[Green Flash]

Any plumbers in the house? Tech briefing required, please. As I understand it, the weapon is a standard cannon, presumably firing standard rounds. For the propellant to burn, would it not need oxygen? Last time I looked, there wasn't exactly an abundance of that stuff in orbit. Standing by to be edumacated!

[treadigraph]

I love the current bun's headline lower down the story.
Tsar Wars... tee hee.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12206486/russia-secretly-tested-anti-satellite-weapon-space-us-command/

Sure that wasn't the Grauniad? :p

[dead_pan]

Any plumbers in the house? Tech briefing required, please. As I understand it, the weapon is a standard cannon, presumably firing standard rounds. For the propellant to burn, would it not need oxygen? Last time I looked, there wasn't exactly an abundance of that stuff in orbit. Standing by to be edumacated!

Oxidisers are part of the mix in a solid propellant, so no, it doesn't need oxygen.

[Green Flash]

Thanks d_p, every day a school day :ok:

[atakacs]

Is anyone surprised? Russia walks its own path, as does China. Two uncontrollable powers.
How do they dare not to submit to their overlords ?

More seriously there are still active (nor for long if you ask me) treaties limiting militarisation of space. But all space fairing power are pretty much flouting, if not downright ignoring, them.

[Fonsini]

The Soviets also fitted aircraft standard 23mm cannon on their Almaz space station - evidently they worked quite well.

Almaz Space Station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaz)

[Capt Scribble]

Must have been an interesting solution to counter the equal and opposite reaction of the lead.

[DODGYOLDFART]

I believe back in the day of Regan's "Star Wars" project, evidence was deliberately leaked to the USSR that the Patriot System was intended for use in space against their ICBM's. Apparently the con worked and was one of the reasons the USSR caved in. So perhaps the Russians are now playing catch-up?

[Momoe]

So the station is effectively like a tank destroyer in that the gun is fixed and the station aligns itself on the target, gun as fitted to the TU-22 is 58K, a lot of mass for a space station.
Micro missiles seem a better solution, less mass, ability to engage target autonomously and no recoil issues.

[Lyneham Lad]

Also in The Times today.

Moscow ‘tests space weapon with satellites in its sights’ (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4400697e-cd15-11ea-b702-e559f69f5512?shareToken=d30dd5f7fc998474be65814fe7ca0d95)

[Lonewolf_50]

I believe back in the day of Regan's "Star Wars" project, evidence was deliberately leaked to the USSR that the Patriot System was intended for use in space against their ICBM's. Apparently the con worked and was one of the reasons the USSR caved in. So perhaps the Russians are now playing catch-up? It was a fact that in the 1980's, the Aegis / SPY 1 system on the CGs (Ticonderoga class) had to have a software patch installed to limit certain radar modes due to compliance with the ABM treaty. I don't know of the current SPY systems' being so disabled; the Navy within the past decade demonstrated anti satellite capability from an Aegis ship when something from space (that was IIRC in a decaying orbit and coming down) got hit by a Standard missile. (Thinking SM-3, but memory may be tricking me). I have a vague idea that we even talked about it on this forum.
THAAD was supposed to be able to reach up into lower space, at one point, but I am so out of date on that system that I can't say with any certainty.

[Lyneham Lad]

In The Times today:-
Russia tests secret ‘space shotgun’ that can target satellites (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4c37b746-cdd3-11ea-979f-ba077cfea17c?shareToken=460285034142a1ddb6c01e1d03bc1bfd)

Russia has tested a space-based weapon system that can be hidden inside a large orbiting satellite and emerge to fire projectiles, lasers or microwave beams to destroy US satellites. The American military calls them “nesting dolls”, named after the Russian matryoshka painted wooden dolls that fit inside each other. It is believed that the weapon may be a kind of orbital “shotgun”, packed with metal pellets that can be spray-fired at satellites.

The latest test of this anti-satellite weapon system, which took place on July 15, has been revealed by the new US Space Command, and condemned by the state department. Russia was pushing ahead with developing a counter-space programme with ground-based anti-satellite capabilities “and what would appear to be actual in-orbit anti-satellite weaponry,” said Christopher Ford, US assistant secretary for international security and non-proliferation. The “mother ship” satellite, Cosmos 2543, was the same one used in December last year to threaten an American spy satellite. US Space Command revealed in January that Cosmos 2543 appeared to be following the satellite, which had to be moved to a new orbit.

The latest Russian test using Cosmos 2543 exposed the matryoshka concept. The test was described as non-destructive, meaning there was no actual hit in space against another satellite.

General Sir Chris Deverell, who previously presided over space at the Ministry of Defence, said that satellites were “inherently vulnerable to attack”. “The weaponisation of space is bad news for everyone except arms manufacturers,” he said. “There are ways to reduce, but not to eliminate, this vulnerability.” Douglas Barrie, aerospace expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said that the Russians appeared to have revived many of the anti-satellite and space-based laser weapon programmes that were cancelled in the 1980s due to lack of funds. Realising the danger of Russian and Chinese threats to America’s global network of satellites from laser and other directed energy weapons, the US had hardened its orbiting systems to provide extra protection. However, Mr Barrie said “if the Russians have an anti-satellite weapon that fires projectiles, a kinetic hit in space, that might be more difficult to defend against.” General John “Jay” Raymond, chief of US space operations, said that Cosmos 2543 had launched a projectile but gave no further details.

Senior UK military personnel are seconded to the Combined Space Operations Centre in California. Data analysts and radar capability at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire also contribute space surveillance functions. Last year the UK became the first formal partner in the American-led Operation Olympic Defender, a military mission to strengthen deterrence against hostile actors in space.

Russia dismissed accusations from the United States and Britain yesterday that it had tested an anti-satellite weapon in space as “propaganda”.

[Pugilistic Animus]

Any plumbers in the house? Tech briefing required, please. As I understand it, the weapon is a standard cannon, presumably firing standard rounds. For the propellant to burn, would it not need oxygen? Last time I looked, there wasn't exactly an abundance of that stuff in orbit. Standing by to be edumacated!

It carries it's own oxidizer... probably NHClO4 ( Ammonium perchlorate) rockets, even firework rockets will function in space. So will ammo rounds smokeless powder contains it's own oxidizer too. Actually,it self oxidizes

[esa-aardvark]

I seem to recall weapons being test fired 'into space'
many years ago from an extremely high flying aircraft.
Don't remember what.

[Piper_Driver]

An F15 with an ASAT missile successfully demonstrated a satellite shoot-down decades ago.

[Ascend Charlie]

Is it really a smart idea to blow a satellite into a million pieces, which will flog around in orbit for eternity and damage or destroy a lot of useful stuff?

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Good video on the recent "close inspection satellite" test here:

https://youtu.be/b4C-ydEpN58

For those that aren't familiar, Scott Manley is regarded as a pretty credible "space watcher/science communicator" with a degree in astrophysics to back it up.