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By: - 20th February 2008 at 13:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There was an agreement not to make ASAT weapons between the US and USSR...
What's the name of that agreement?
the Soviets also had a plane launched ASAT mockup launched from a Mig-25 though they never got as far as testing it.
Fixed that for ya.
By: - 20th February 2008 at 13:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
How about the Istrebitel Sputnik? Is still operative?
As far I know it was the lone thing that demonstrated a real ASAT capability before the Chinese test.
The dedicated F-15 just launched a missile that supposedly intercepted “a point in the space” and the MiG-31D performed just the ascension tests.
By: - 20th February 2008 at 13:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It was the MiG-31D that was the ASAT carrier, and I believe a few trial launches did in fact take place. And I think the USA blew up a satellite in orbit back in the 60's with some offshoot of the SAFEGUARD program.
Also, the USA has the ABM system at Ft. Greeley in Alaska operational. The network isn't yet at full strength, but there are "missiles in the tubes" fully capable of being shot at targets.
By: - 20th February 2008 at 18:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Below is a picture of "Bort 72", a MiG-31D used in the Soviet ASAT tests in the late 1980s. The location is Sary Shagan in Kazakhstan, but what's the "missile" on the left? Some have suggested it's the Soviet ASAT.:confused:
By: - 20th February 2008 at 21:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
In this computer era wouldn't it perhaps be possible to load that image into an enhancement program to 'zoom' in if you like on the little display board in front of the missile - could that be the missiles name on that white board, or something more dull like a no smoking sign.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 01:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The dedicated F-15 just launched a missile that supposedly intercepted “a point in the space” and the MiG-31D performed just the ascension tests.
The F-15 ASAT intercepted several "points in space". It also got a satellite shoot down.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 02:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It was the MiG-31D that was the ASAT carrier, and I believe a few trial launches did in fact take place. And I think the USA blew up a satellite in orbit back in the 60's with some offshoot of the SAFEGUARD program.
Nike Zeus (Before Safeguard's time). Thor was also in service as an ASAT for a while.
"During the late 1950's and early 1960's several air-launched ASAT systems were tested by the United States. These grew out of ongoing efforts to develop strategic air-launched ballistic missiles, and did not result in operational systems. But they are indicative of an early and abiding interest in ASAT weapons. Bold Orion, which was tested by the Air Force starting in October 1959, launched rockets from a B-47 bomber. In the two Hi-Ho tests in 1962, the Navy launched rockets from an F-4 fighter. , Interestingly, both the Bold Orion and Hi-Ho ASAT test programs of the early 1960s used the Altair as a second stage, the same upper stage as the later Miniature Homing Vehicle ASAT.
The US Army's Nike-Zeus was originally developed as part of an Anti-Ballistic Missile system. After years of research it became clear that it would be largely ineffective as an ABM. According to Paul Stares, "[t]he US Army's proposal to convert the Nike Zeus missile to the ASAT role in November 1957 and later in January 1960 marked the beginning of an almost symbiotic relationship between ABM and ASAT research and development. This was inevitable given the similar requirements and methods to detect, track and intercept both missiles and satellites. Moreover, the possession of exoatmospheric ABM missiles by definition provided a limited ASAT capability or certainly a system that could be transformed into one with relative ease."(1) The first successful US space anti-satellite intercept took place on May 23, 1963, from Kwajalein Island in the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the duration of Project Mudflap or 505, as it was variously known, at least eight of the Nike Zeus ground-launched missiles were fired from that date until January 13, 1966.(2)
The US Air Force, not to be outdone, also tested and deployed several Thor rockets which were modified for the anti-satellite mission. This capability grew out of the Operation Dominic series of high altitude nuclear tests, conducted in 1962. These nuclear-tipped ASATs became operational on Johnston Island in the Pacific in 1964 and could intercept a target at much greater range than the Nike-Zeus. The system consisted of "a thrust-augmented Thor-Delta with three strap-on solid rockets, a combination giving the high acceleration needed to intercept satellites in near earth orbit."(3) The Program 437 Thor system was tested at least 16 times from 1964 to 1970, prior to its retirement in 1976. This system could be restored to operational status on 6 months notice, since the booster components are stored as part of the American capability to resume nuclear testing in the event of the demise of the Limited Test Ban Treaty.
It has been claimed that "Program 437....laid the technological groundwork for the Sentinel, Spartan, Sprint and Safeguard."(4) Both the Nike Zeus and Thor antisatellite systems would have utilized nuclear warheads to destroy their targets. This, coupled with the complexity of their launch procedures, amounted to a limited capability with severe operational constraints. "The respective advantages of the two systems were that the Nike Zeus could react more quickly due to its solid propellant, while the Thor missile could be fired against targets at higher altitudes."(5) Following the retirement of the Thor program, the US emphasis shifted to non-nuclear kinetic kill mechanisms.
The Air-Launched Miniature Vehicle (ALMV) was the primary American ASAT effort in the early 1980s. This weapon, launched from an F-15 fighter by a small two stage rocket, carries a heat-seeking Miniature Homing Vehicle (MHV) which would destroy its target by direct impact at high speed. The F-15 can bring ALMV under the ground track of its target, as opposed to a ground-based system, which must wait for a target satellite to overfly its launch site.
An operational force was planned to ultimately number over 100 interceptors. However, by 1986, the program, initially expected to cost $500 million, was estimated at $5.3 to complete. In an attempt to limit costs, the Air Force scaled the MHV program back by 2/3 in 1987.(6) The Administration canceled the program in 1988 after encountering technical problems with its homing guidance system, as well as testing delays and significant cost growth. "
By: - 21st February 2008 at 02:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Oops, quite right. I seem to remember that it was the Mig-31D that was supposed to be used for satellite launch and the missile displayed (or drawn) was actually already designed and built and it was quite large and would occupy a central belly position on the aircraft.
True true. If you look at the belly of the MiG-31D you can see that the R-33 housings were deleted. And it is true that the ASAT was a large vehicle (and is probably what you see in the image above, as it is also true that the test firings took place at Sary Shagan and that's where the image was reportedly taken...fascinating place what with all the history there), which most likely resulted in the characteristic triangular endplates on the wingtips for enhanced stability.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 02:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Nike Zeus (Before Safeguard's time).
Yeah, I meant predecessor. NIKE-ZEUS became NIKE-X/NIKE-EX and then Spartan.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 02:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yeah, I meant predecessor. NIKE-ZEUS became NIKE-X/NIKE-EX and then Spartan.
Oh, back in those days I think "success" was defined as "would have killed the satellite had the nuke been on board". :diablo: Funny, the article leaves out the High Virgo B-58 shots.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 03:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Bold Orion and High Virgo
Posted for fair use...
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/bolorion.htm
Bold Orion
Anti-ballistic missile. Year: 1958. Family: Air-launched. Country: USA. Alternate Designation: WS-199.
Anti-ballistic missile, air-launched from a B-47 Stratojet, consisting of a Sergeant booster and an Altair upper stage.
Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch
WS-199
In the late 1950s, the U.S. Air Force studied and tested various strategic weapon options under the WS-199 (Weapon System 199) label. The WS-199A designation applied to Strategic Air Command system studies in general, while three other subprojects flight tested actual hardware.
Martin WS-199B Bold Orion
In 1958, Martin received a U.S. Air Force contract to determine the feasibility of an ALBM (Air-Launched Ballistic Missile). Test articles were to be built and flown under project WS-199B Bold Orion.
Between 26 May 1958 and 13 October 1959, 12 Bold Orion test launches were conducted using a B-47 Stratojet as carrier aircraft. The missiles used major components from other programs to save time. The first WS-199B missiles were single-stage vehicles powered by a Thiokol TX-20 (XM20) Sergeant solid-fueled rocket, but the initial flight tests were reportedly not very successful. The Bold Orion was then modified to a two-stage missile by adding an Altair second stage. In this configuration, it became a viable ALBM with a range of 1770 km (1100 miles). The results of the Bold Orion program were put into the requirements for the USAF's WS-138A operational ALBM program (leading to the GAM-87/AGM-48 Skybolt).
The final WS-199B launch tested the Bold Orion ALBM as an anti-satellite missile. The missile was launched at an altitude of 10700 m (35000 ft) and guided towards the perigee of the satellite Explorer VI at an altitude of 251 km (156 miles). To record its flight path, the Bold Orion transmitted telemetry to the ground, ejected flares to aid visual tracking, and was continuously tracked by radar. The missile successfully passed within 6.4 km (4 miles) of the satellite.
Lochkeed WS-199C High Virgo
In early 1958, Convair and Lockheed jointly proposed the USAF a program to develop an ALBM (Air-Launched Ballistic Missile) for the B-58 Hustler bomber. In June that year, the Air Force awarded a contract for a proof-of-concept test program under project WS-199C High Virgo. Lockheed was responsible for the design and construction of the missile, while Convair built a dedicated launch pylon for installation on the test aircraft (the B-58 prototype).
To save development time and cost, Lockheed used proven components from the XQ-5 Kingfisher, X-17, UGM-27 Polaris and MGM-29 Sergeant missiles. The High Virgo missile was powered by a single Thiokol TX-20 Sergeant solid-fueled rocket motor. It was equipped with an Autonetics inertial guidance system, but a development delay caused the first two of four tests to be flown with a preprogrammed autopilot instead. The missile had four tailfins for aerodynamic conrtrol, and was fitted with a plastic nose cone to cover the reentry vehicle. The launch procedure was to fly supersonic at high altitude and drop the High Virgo missile, whose motor would then ignite after a few seconds of free fall to clear the B-58.
On the first project 199C flight on 5 September 1958, the missile's control system failed only a few seconds after motor ignition, and the test had to be aborted. The second test on 19 December 1958 was successful, and the missile reached an altitude of 76200 m (250000 ft), a speed of Mach 6, and flew a distance of about 300 km (185 miles). The third flight on 4 June 1959 was the first to use the inertial system, and was also successful.
The fourth and final test flight of WS-199C took place on 22 September 1959, and was of a completely different nature. It was to prove the feasibility of an air-launched satellite interceptor missile. For this purpose, the High Virgo missile's nose was slightly lengthened to include 13 photographic cameras. It was planned to fly the missile closely past the Explorer IV satellite, and photograph the satellite to prove the encounter. Because Explorer IV's orbital parameters were found to be inaccurate, the target was changed to Explorer V. To get maximum performance, the missile (nicknamed "King Lofus IV") was dropped at a speed of Mach 2, but 30 seconds after launch later all communication was lost. Because the recoverable camera package wasn't found either, it couldn't be determined whether the satellite intercept was successful.
The USAF didn't pursue the Convair/Lockheed B-58 ALBM project further, but had instead begun the WS-138A program for an ALBM launched by the B-52. This program eventually led to the GAM-87/AGM-48 Skybolt missile.
McDonnell WS-199D Alpha Draco
The Alpha Draco boost-glide research vehicle was developed and built by McDonnell between 1957 and 1959 under project WS-199D. It was a two stage rocket, powered by Thiokol TX-20 Sergeant and TX-30 solid-fueled rocket motors. The nose cone carried an unpowered glide reentry vehicle. WS-199D was to explore the feasibility of a boost-glide strategic missile, combining a multi-stage rocket booster with an aerodynamic payload vehicle.
On a typical flight, Alpha Draco's first stage boosted the vehicle to 12800 m (42000 ft). That stage was then dropped and the vehicle coasted upwards for a while, after which the second stage was ignited to lift the payload to an altitude of 28000 m (92000 ft). The reentry vehicle, having reached Mach 5+, glided towards a preprogrammed location about 390 km (240 miles) from the launch point where it entered a terminal dive into the ocean.
Alpha Draco was flown three times during 1959. The program verified basic principles of boost-glide vehicles, and explored hypersonic aero- and thermodynamics.
Specifications
Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!
Data for WS-199 missiles:
Bold Orion (WS-199B) High Virgo (WS-199C) Alpha Draco (WS-199D)
Length 11.3 m (37 ft) 9.25 m (30 ft 4 in) 14.05 m (46 ft 1 in)
Diameter ? 79 cm (31 in) 79 cm (31 in)
Finspan ? ? 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)
Weight ? 5450 kg (12000 lb) ?
Speed ? Mach 6 Mach 5+
Ceiling ? 76200 m (250000 ft) 28000 m (92000 ft)
Range 1770 km (1100 miles) 300 km (185 miles) 390 km (240 miles)
Propulsion 1st stage: Thiokol TX-20 solid-fueled rocket
2nd stage: Altair solid-fueled rocket Thiokol TX-20 solid-fueled rocket;
222 kN (50000 lb) for 29 s 1st stage: Thiokol TX-20 solid-fueled rocket
2nd stage: Thiokol TX-30 solid-fueled rocket
Main Sources
[1] Jay Miller: "Convair B-58 Hustler", Aerofax, 1997
[2] Spaceline Website
[3] Gunter Krebs: Gunter's Space Page
[4] Norman J. Bowman: "The Handbook of Rockets and Guided Missiles", Perastadion Press, 1963
[5] Frederick I. Ordway III, Ronald C. Wakeford: "International Missile and Spacecraft Guide", McGraw-Hill, 1960
Manufacturer: Martin. Launches: 12. First Launch Date: 1958-05-26. Last Launch Date: 1959-10-13. Launch data is: complete.
Model: Bold Orion 1. Family: Air-launched. Country: USA.
2 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x B-47 Stratojet + 1 x Sergeant
Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Core Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Total Length: 11.30 m (37.00 ft).
Model: Bold Orion 2. Family: Air-launched. Country: USA.
3 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x B-47 Stratojet + 1 x Sergeant + 1 x Altair
Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Core Diameter: 0.79 m (2.59 ft). Total Length: 11.30 m (37.00 ft).
Bold Orion Chronology
1958 May 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 June 27 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 July 18 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 September 25 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 October 10 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 November 17 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1958 December 8 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 796.
1958 December 16 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 796.
1959 April 4 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: AMR. Launch Pad: North Atlantic Drop Zone. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 796.
1959 June 8 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: AMR. Launch Pad: North Atlantic Drop Zone. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1959 June 19 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 796.
1959 October 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: AMR. Launch Pad: North Atlantic Drop Zone. Launch Vehicle: Bold Orion. Model: Bold Orion 2.
* Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 796.
Bibliography and Further Reading
* McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
* Parsch, Andreas, DesignationSystems.Net, . Outstanding, unique reference for aircraft, missiles, propulsion, and avionics systems. Accessed at: http://www.designation-systems.net/.
Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.
© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 09:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the info guys...
However just today the US Navy used a "modified SM-3" missile to destroy "rouge" satellite. The reasoning behind the missile shoot is the lamest i have heard, using an ABM against a satellite because of "hydrazine" fuel crashing on poor joe citizens house sounds like an excuse if ever there was on to test the missiles capabilities?
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AFP) - A US Navy cruiser hit a defunct US spy satellite with a single missile late Wednesday in a successful interception 133 nautical miles in space over the Pacific, the US Defense Department said.
A network of radars and satellites designed for the US missile defense system confirmed that the interception occurred at approximately 10:26 pm eastern standard time (0326 GMT Thursday).
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates was informed in a conference call with senior military officials "that the mission was a success, that the missile had intercepted the decaying satellite," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.
"The secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that, and he congratulated General (James) Cartwright and General (Kevin) Chilton as well as their teams on a job well done," he said.
A senior Pentagon official later said the missile appeared to have struck a tank on the satellite containing a hazardous fuel, hydrazine, that the Pentagon said could threaten humans if the tank survived re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
"All indications are that the mission was a complete success. The missile appears to have destroyed the fuel tank. We will need some time to confirm the extent of destruction, but it looks good," the official said.
Gates had given the generals the go-ahead for the shoot down several hours earlier as he flew from Washington to Honolulu, a base for the three Aegis warships involved in the intercept attempt.
Morrell said Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Chilton, the head of the US Strategic Command, told Gates "the conditions were ripe for an attempt."
Seas were initially believed to be too rough but they calmed down later in the day as a six hour window opened for the attempt.
The USS Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser, fired a single modified tactical SM-3 missile, "hitting the satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) per hour," the Pentagon said.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 10:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Do we know what the modifications to the missile were? Will the bigger motor on the upcoming SM-3 models improve the weapons ASAT capability at all?
As for why they did it, well thats an open secret, the message is simple to China in paticular. If you want to play in the big boys playground you have to understand who the biggest boy is.:diablo:
By: - 21st February 2008 at 13:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Do we know what the modifications to the missile were? Will the bigger motor on the upcoming SM-3 models improve the weapons ASAT capability at all?As for why they did it, well thats an open secret, the message is simple to China in paticular. If you want to play in the big boys playground you have to understand who the biggest boy is.:diablo:
As I understand it the modifications were software only. I imagine China is still hyperventilating. :diablo:
By: - 21st February 2008 at 21:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I imagine China is still hyperventilating.
No more than the Americans did 2 years ago. I still remember their screams. So, let’s try to avoid childish comments.
By: - 21st February 2008 at 23:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No more than the Americans did 2 years ago. I still remember their screams. So, let’s try to avoid childish comments.
:D
By: - 23rd February 2008 at 14:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
there would likely be relatively big chunks hitting the ground but the fuel would be very unlikely to make it to the ground.
According to NASA, the hydrazine tank, a spherical unit about a metre in diameter, was the largest item expected to survive re-entry if the satellite had not been destroyed. The Space Shuttle Columbia's hydrazine task survived re-entry when that spacecraft broke up, landing in a wooded area in Texas.
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By: slipperysam - 20th February 2008 at 09:09
Just wondering about ASAT and ABM.
Were any of these systems operational?
And in what forms?
I Remember the ASAT testing done using the F-15 in the 1980s....
But other then that it seems to have "fissiled"(?) :D