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From: karn@petrus.UUCP (Phil R. Karn)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Debris from Upcomming ASAT Test
Message-ID: <533@petrus.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 8-Sep-85 23:09:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: petrus.533
Posted: Sun Sep  8 23:09:54 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Sep-85 04:15:28 EDT
References: <385@aurora.UUCP>
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Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
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> 
> Lastly, might the national interest be better served by negotiating and
> monitoring a ban on all ASAT tests and, simultaneously, launching very
> large numbers of spy satellites to dilute the tactical advantage of the
> Soviet ASAT to negligable levels?  The Soviets claim they are prepared
> to end ASAT tests if the US will follow suit.  

Yes, yes, YES!!!  Reagan's decision to go ahead with ASAT testing has got to
be one of the (if not THE) stupidest move of his career (and that honor has
a lot of competition). We have nothing to gain (except a little "macho" from
being able to brag that we leapfrogged the Russkies) and everything to lose
from disturbing the present situation. See the Scientific American article
on ASATs in the June 1984 issue for an excellent case for what you suggest.

I am also very concerned about the debris issue, aside from the political
and strategic aspects. The media has been referring to the test target as
a "communications satellite", which implies a geostationary orbit.
I can't think of a worse orbit to pollute with crap from an ASAT test
than GEO, although it isn't certain that the satellite in question is really
up there (the range of the American ASAT is apparently classified).
Any test on an object in orbit (as opposed to a "point" in space or
a suborbital target such as the Homing Overlay test) is bound to create
an enormous amount of debris in relatively long-lived orbits. I pray
that sooner or later there will have to be a treaty banning the testing
of space weapons for the same reason that it became necessary to ban
atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.

Phil