Charles R. Smith
Thursday, Apr. 22, 2004

China successfully launched two new satellites early Monday using a Long March II C rocket. The rocket roared off the pad at 11:59 p.m. Sunday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

One of the two new Chinese satellites is described as "Nano-satellite I". The Chinese Army-run Qinghua University and Aerospace Qinghua Satellite Technologies Co. Ltd developed the miniature satellite.

The tiny Chinese Nano-satellite weighs in at 55 pounds and according to the official PRC press "is designed for high-tech experiments."

However, U.S. defense analysts feel the new PRC mini-satellite is a prototype for war. According to Richard Fisher, a noted expert on Chinese military technology, the nano-satellite is part of a Chinese Army space program.

"China will use micro and nano-sats for a range of missions, surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and for destroying enemy satellites. These are missions that the United States also envisions for very small satellites. Their size makes them difficult to impossible to detect, and thus, to either avoid or shoot down," stated Fisher, a defense analyst for the Center for Security Policy.

"Nano-sats can also be deployed in large numbered "constellations" so that if one or more are taken out, then the remainder can still function. Their light weight also means they can be lofted by smaller and mobile space launch vehicles (SLVs)," stated Fisher.

Chinese Army Space

Fisher noted that the PLA space program is geared toward global military operations. The current Long March space launch rocket is based on a nuclear tipped missile, and according to Fisher, the next generation of Chinese space launchers are also based on active weapons.

"China is developing three new mobile, solid-fueled space launch vehicles especially for launching micro and nano-sats. The first to be fully tested in 2003 was the KT-1, a four-stage rocket based on the DF-21 MRBM (Medium Range Ballistic Missile). The KT-2 will be based on the DF-31 ICBM and the KT-2A, on the DF-31A ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile). The latter two will target geosynchronous and polar orbits, where many sensitive U.S. military satellites reside," noted Fisher.

"With a mobile SLV, you can better choose when to attack an enemy satellite, and do so with greater surprise. By 2005 the PLA could have two operational ASATs for low earth orbits: the ground based laser dazzler mentioned in the Pentagon PLA reports since 1998; and a direct-assent ASAT based on the KT-1 with micro or nano-sat interceptors," stated Fisher.

"China's launching of a nano-satellite would not have been possible without a 1998 deal that saw China's premier technical school, Tsinghua University, begin to co-develop micro and nano-sat technology with Britain's Surry Space Systems, at the time the world's premier very small satellite maker. China launched its first 50kg micro satellite in 2000, and with this week's nano-sat launching, has mastered this "transformational" technology," concluded Fisher.

Iraq Attacked U.S. Satellites

Fisher's warning of the rapidly advancing Chinese Anti-satellite program has not gone without notice inside the Pentagon. The threat to U.S. satellites is more than real - it is now part of military history.

Military sources confirmed a recent report that Iraq attempted to disrupt U.S. satellites. Signals transmitted from the Iraqi embassy in Cuba jammed American commercial communications satellite traffic during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The jamming effort by Iraq shows a growing vulnerability in U.S. space assets. According to Pentagon sources, U.S. military satellites have suffered a number of attacks by ground based laser systems. Pentagon officials refused to identify the sources of the laser "dazzle" attacks. The growing number of attacks on U.S. satellite is matched by an increase in space-based assets designed for use against America being offered for export by Russia and China.

CHINA 'SUPREMACY OVER THE WORLD'

Russia is offering the Kondor-E satellite to any foreign buyer. The Kondor satellite is designed specifically to guide high-speed supersonic cruise missiles with space targeting sensors. China has orbited military targeting satellites and is helping North Korea, Pakistan and Iran to develop their own military targeting satellites or space launch programs.

China is also making diplomatic and military moves to support Syria. A PLA delegation headed by Lt. Gen. Liu Dongdong, political commissar of the Jinan Military Area Command, arrived in Damascus on April 19 for a five-day "friendly" visit.

General Mustafa Tlass, deputy commander of the Syrian Armed Forces and minister of national defense, met with the PLA delegation and the two sides held talks on furthering military cooperation and exchanges between the two armed forces.

In addition, China is actively developing anti-satellite systems as demonstrated by the recent nano-satellite launch. Russia offered to sell its MiG-31 Fox Hound fighter armed with a rocket anti-satellite system to China. China has also purchased extensive anti-satellite laser equipment from Russia, building its own system that is capable of knocking out or disabling a U.S. satellite.

One Chinese Army-owned company, sanctioned recently by the Bush administration for selling advanced military technology to Iran, made it clear that the PRC does not intend to be in 2nd place during the 21st century.

"Contend for hegemony of the state," notes web based slogan of the Zibo Chemical Company.

"Strive for supremacy over the world."

U.S. war planners are also facing a new complication. Several potential adversaries have access to space resources even without space launch vehicles. High-resolution space imagery can be purchased with a simple credit card and space based communications can be leased on commercial satellites.

Kerry Shut Down U.S. Military Space

Military sources are still very reluctant to propose offensive U.S. space based programs for fear of a political backlash. Democrat candidate John Kerry has adamantly opposed U.S. Anti-satellite programs and has promised to shut down all U.S. space warfare efforts if elected.

U.S. space based offensive and defensive programs have been placed on hold, under-funded or simply over-ruled by political concerns from Congress. The U.S. has not matched Chinese nano-satellite technology and efforts to develop a space-based defense have been stymied by people such as Senator Kerry who oppose both space weapons and the U.S. National Missile defense.

However, during the 20th National Space Symposium, U.S. military commanders spoke that urgent action is needed to avoid a coming space war or worse, losing a war because we were not ready.

"The U.S. cannot allow our space assets to be threatened," stated Adm. James O. Ellis, Jr., commander of the U.S. Strategic Command.

"We must continue to develop and field space control assets that provide us the ability to use our space systems when and where we need, while denying that capability - when necessary - to our adversaries. This is a vial national security interest," stated Adm. Ellis.

"The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedience, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place, we are entering a period of consequences," said Adm. Ellis, quoting Winston Churchill from a pre-WW II speech.

"To avoid significant 21st century consequences, we must act now to protect and defend America's interests in space."

RADIO APPEARANCES The Charlie Smith Show on the American Freedom Network on Friday, 4/23/4 at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Show information at www.amerifree.com.

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