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From: Hank.Walker@UNH.CS.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: A Bit of History
Message-ID: <8510071640.AA06325@s1-b.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 7-Oct-85 12:38:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8510071640.AA06325
Posted: Mon Oct  7 12:38:47 1985
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Here is a non-political (for Josh) injection of facts into the ASAT debate.

1) A long time ago (1960s), the US carried out ASAT tests similar to what
the Russians have.  We gave it up.

2) The US had a secret Nike Zeus base on Johnston Atoll.  The Nike Zeus was
originally designed as a nuclear-tipped ABM, but in this case was installed
for ASAT use.  The base was dismantled in the 70s (1975?).

3) The Homing Overlay experiments at Kwajelein Atoll (1 of 3 successful)
provides a basic ASAT capability, as well as an exo-atmospheric ABM
capability for which it is intended.  The homing vehicle is launched from
a ICBM-sized booster (a Minuteman booster?).

Statements such as "We're far behind the Russians in ASAT research" or "We
can't let them have a monopoly on ASATs" are false given the above facts.