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Pretty silly from the Indians 08:40 - Apr 2 with 951 viewsStokieBlue

It's pretty much assumed that major powers can shoot down satellites, it's not the 1950s and it's not that hard.

It seems like they tried to avoid debris but a 44% increase in the chances of debris hitting the ISS over the next 10 days if far, far too high.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/02/a-terrible-thing-nasa-condemns-i

SB

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 08:56 - Apr 2 with 915 viewsGuthrum

It's not a particularly valid test for an anti-ballistic missile test, either.

Satellites have a long-term predictable track which can be calculated in advance and their capacity for evasive maneuver is, at best (if they have any fuel left), limited. Whereas there may be only a few seconds to detect, locate and track a missile (especially a medium range one of the sort India's most likely opponents will be using) before it becomes too late to launch the interceptor and the more advanced types deploy decoys and multiple warheads which are all able to jink on the way to the target, making them harder to hit.

In footballing terms, think of it as the difference between catching an attempted lob from the half-way line and stopping a wickedly swerving shot from 25 yards through a crowded box.

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 08:59 - Apr 2 with 913 viewsStokieBlue

Pretty silly from the Indians on 08:56 - Apr 2 by Guthrum

It's not a particularly valid test for an anti-ballistic missile test, either.

Satellites have a long-term predictable track which can be calculated in advance and their capacity for evasive maneuver is, at best (if they have any fuel left), limited. Whereas there may be only a few seconds to detect, locate and track a missile (especially a medium range one of the sort India's most likely opponents will be using) before it becomes too late to launch the interceptor and the more advanced types deploy decoys and multiple warheads which are all able to jink on the way to the target, making them harder to hit.

In footballing terms, think of it as the difference between catching an attempted lob from the half-way line and stopping a wickedly swerving shot from 25 yards through a crowded box.


It wasn't an anti-ballistic missile test was it? It was supposed to be an anti-satellite weapon.

I don't think the Indians are anywhere near the level of technology needed to create a functioning anti-ballistic missile, although they might get close to a 1990 version of a Patriot or something. Certainly nothing near an ICBM interceptor though.

Still, it was a totally daft thing to do. Fingers crossed no bits of debris cross the path of the ISS.

SB

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:01 - Apr 2 with 904 viewsSteve_M

It's almost like Modi has an election to win isn't it?

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:02 - Apr 2 with 902 viewsWeWereZombies

Pretty silly from the Indians on 08:59 - Apr 2 by StokieBlue

It wasn't an anti-ballistic missile test was it? It was supposed to be an anti-satellite weapon.

I don't think the Indians are anywhere near the level of technology needed to create a functioning anti-ballistic missile, although they might get close to a 1990 version of a Patriot or something. Certainly nothing near an ICBM interceptor though.

Still, it was a totally daft thing to do. Fingers crossed no bits of debris cross the path of the ISS.

SB


The article you linked said China had done a similar thing, isn't this just India keeping up with the Joneses?

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:07 - Apr 2 with 885 viewsGuthrum

Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:02 - Apr 2 by WeWereZombies

The article you linked said China had done a similar thing, isn't this just India keeping up with the Joneses?


It's possible to do things without creating a field of space rubble. As with Israel and nuclear weapons, you quietly let it be known that you possess the technology without ever testing it in public. Or you could retain it as a strategic surprise.

This is pre-election jingoistic sabre rattling by Modi at a time of high tension with Pakistan.
[Post edited 2 Apr 2019 9:08]

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:09 - Apr 2 with 875 viewsStokieBlue

Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:02 - Apr 2 by WeWereZombies

The article you linked said China had done a similar thing, isn't this just India keeping up with the Joneses?


Idiotic for China to do it as well but that was more than 10 years ago.

It's not a hard thing to do, they don't need to prove they can do it.

SB

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:11 - Apr 2 with 868 viewsGuthrum

Pretty silly from the Indians on 08:59 - Apr 2 by StokieBlue

It wasn't an anti-ballistic missile test was it? It was supposed to be an anti-satellite weapon.

I don't think the Indians are anywhere near the level of technology needed to create a functioning anti-ballistic missile, although they might get close to a 1990 version of a Patriot or something. Certainly nothing near an ICBM interceptor though.

Still, it was a totally daft thing to do. Fingers crossed no bits of debris cross the path of the ISS.

SB


I thought it was an ABM system they were testing. India has very limited need for an anti-satellite system. If they're fighting a major war with China, it's probably already too late.

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:21 - Apr 2 with 853 viewsWeWereZombies

Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:11 - Apr 2 by Guthrum

I thought it was an ABM system they were testing. India has very limited need for an anti-satellite system. If they're fighting a major war with China, it's probably already too late.


I think it is more about influence than war, both nations are growing economically at a significant rate and are much bigger players on the world stage than they were thirty years ago. Also, along with the United States, they are the biggest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions (FT, 26th March, page 5, 'Energy Demand') between 2014 and 2016.

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Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:57 - Apr 2 with 811 viewsGuthrum

Pretty silly from the Indians on 09:21 - Apr 2 by WeWereZombies

I think it is more about influence than war, both nations are growing economically at a significant rate and are much bigger players on the world stage than they were thirty years ago. Also, along with the United States, they are the biggest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions (FT, 26th March, page 5, 'Energy Demand') between 2014 and 2016.


China has been way ahead for some time, but now they're slowing down, while India is still building momentum.

And yes, both nations have sacrificed ecology for economic growth and cheap energy. So did we, in the 19th century but 1) it was not then known about and 2) alternative technologies did not exist.

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