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| Artists impression of an Satellite's destruction by an ASAT weapon |
By Zachary Keck
The U.S. says that China conducted an anti-satellite missile test last week, not a ballistic missile defense test.
The U.S. is claiming that China conducted a “non-destructive” anti-satellite test last week.
Both Space News and the Associated Press are reporting, citing the U.S. State Department, that China conducted a non-destructive anti-satellite test last Wednesday.
In an email to Space News, the State Department called on China to refrain from conducting anti-satellite tests.
“We call on China to refrain from destabilizing actions — such as the continued development and testing of destructive anti-satellite systems — that threaten the long term security and sustainability of the outer space environment, on which all nations depend,” the State Department said, according to Space News. “The United States continuously looks to ensure its space systems are safe and resilient against emerging space threats.”
Back in 2007, China shot down one of its defunct weather satellites. That test is believed to have used the ground-based, medium-range SC-19 ballistic missile to shoot down its Fengyun-1C weather satellite. Some foreign analysts also believe that China conducted an anti-satellite test in May 2013 as well. Beijing claimed that test was of a scientific rocket.
Read the full story at The Diplomat