According to the White House, the United States is currently under threat from a new threat from Russia: one"Disturbing"of the new anti-satellite **, although ostensibly unable to be caused on the ground"Physical destruction", but could seriously disrupt US military and civilian operations in outer space. Some U.S. suspects that the system may be nuclear-powered, a prospect that raises concerns that Russia could not only disable strategic satellites in orbit, but could in turn deal a major blow to the U.S. economy by weakening and civilian space-based operations. The threat is apparently so terrifying that congressional lawmakers are sounding the alarm to the public.
Fortunately, the U.S. has a relatively simple countermeasure to deal with space-based: just send a fighter jet to blow this damn thing out of the sky. After all, the Air Force did this before - once.
In 1985, as the Cold War gradually ended, the United States found itself confronted with a relatively new problem. According to Major General Wilbert Doug Pearson (retired), the USSR has developed one"Powerful"The ability to launch small satellites into orbit to track the US Navy's warships at sea weakens the Pentagon's ability to suddenly project power on any coast in the world without being detected. Wilbert Jr. -"Doug"- Major General Pearson (retired) believes that this ability weakens the Pentagon's ability to suddenly project power on any coast in the world without being detected.
Since the launch of the Soviet Union in 1957"Sputnik-1"Since the beginning of the space race, the United States has been seeking anti-satellites, especially at the height of the Cold War, when concerns about Russia's space nuclear weapons were growing day by day. According to Smithsonian magazine, previous efforts to develop anti-satellite missiles have included air-launched ballistic missiles as well as ground-launched ballistic missile systems"Modified version"Wait. Although fast-moving aircraft appear to be the most likely platform for launching anti-personnel vehicles at enemy satellites, none of these efforts have proven to be a viable solution.
In a 2020 interview with Mission & Goal magazine, Pearson spoke about his magical space lethality.
At the end of the 70s of the 20th century, the USSR quickly developed"Common rail"Anti-satellite **-"This ** is designed to reach orbit, synchronize with the target and detonate, launch shrapnel to destroy enemy satellites"In response to this, Carter launched a program that culminated in the ASM-135 missile, and it was this system that Pearson used to finally destroy satellites in orbit. The basic concept of the ASM-135 is simple: the aircraft launches a two-stage missile at high altitude and then releases an autonomous one"Micro Flying Vehicles", ramming enemy satellites and blasting them to pieces at thousands of miles per hour.
In the early 80s of the 20th century, Pearson served as commander of the F-15 anti-satellite joint test force at Edwards Air Force Base in California. When the time came to test the ASM-135, the F-15 became a logical carrier. Pearson said in an interview in 2020 that at the time, this twin-engine fighter"It is a real horse racing in the world of fighters"。"It is big enough and strong enough to carry a sizable missile on the center line. Therefore, it is the best option. And it has good navigation, it is very reliable and can be operated from many bases on the east or west coast"。
After five successful test launches of the ASM-15 missile from the F-135, Pearson's team decided it was time to test the system on real-world satellite targets. The team selected the Solwind P78-1 satellite, a solar observation platform that has been orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 325 miles since its launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1979.
The launch date was set for September 13, 1985. After merging with a tanker about 200 miles from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Pearson finally took position at 30,000 feet to launch ASM-135 at the Solwind satellite, which was flying at about 17,500 miles about 300 miles above Pearson's plane. According to Smithsonian magazine, Pearson"Ignite the afterburner to accelerate the aircraft to 1Mach 3, and climb at 60 degrees", and then press on the plane"Pick button", launch the missile at the target.
The ASM-135 missile quickly accelerated to 13000 feet per second and flew into the distance. In a 2020 interview, Pearson recalled that because he couldn't visually confirm whether the Solwind satellite had been hit, he pressed the microphone button to speak to the Air Force ground team at Vandenberg Air Force Base, but his friend Scott, who was on the ground"He couldn't say a word, because all the screams and shouts in the control room completely overshadowed him"。
Pearson told the Smithsonian:"Thirty-five years ago, it seemed impossible to hit a bullet with a bullet to many. "The F-15 anti-satellite** program makes it clear that a high-velocity object – faster than a speeding bullet – can be guided precisely to hit another, faster object. "
Although Pearson managed to shoot down a satellite in orbit, his brilliance was short-lived: According to Smithsonian magazine, the ASM-135 program made only two additional test flights, and congressional lawmakers cut funding for the project the following year. In 2005, Pearson retired and became commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base.
While the U.S. has since developed other ways to disable satellites — in 2008, the Navy destroyer USS Lake Erie used the Standard Missile-3 to destroy a malfunctioning National Reconnaissance Bureau satellite — no one has been able to match Pearson since that fateful day in 1985"Space aces"The distinction is on par.
I don't know exactly what's going on, but we've proven that we can do it"Pearson said of the terminated program. "We made it look relatively easy. This is not the case, but it seems so"。