China: A Rising Threat in Space
Monday, November 3, 2008 at 12:24 Sanjay Kumar
Research Assistant, Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation, USI, New Delhi
On 27 September 2008 China reached another milestone in its space programme when a Chinese taikonaut, Zhai Zhigang, ventured out of the spacecraft, Shenzhou-7, and performed a 30 minute-long spacewalk. Shortly after the taikonaut returned from the spacewalk, the Shenzhou-7 released a micro-satellite BX-1, weighing 40kg and measuring 40cm on each side, to take pictures of the orbiting mother spaceship. The BX-1, orbiting in tandem with Shenzhou-7, took thousands of stunning pictures of the mother spaceship, leaving the world greatly impressed about China's growing scientific and technical capabilities. Live telecast of the launch of Shenzhou-7 - the first such event in the history of China was equally impressive, as it reflected China's growing confidence in itself as a space power to reckon with.
The release of the micro-satellite from Shenzhou-7 and the unintended trajectory it gained immediately after the release - the micro-satellite began to drift away from Shenzhou-7 after its release but it was finally brought under control - have since left many unanswered questions with rising fears whether China could have been done this with the intention of testing capabilities required to develop a co-orbital anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon. Unlike India, China's space programme is under the control of its military. Therefore, the strategic implications of China's recent rendezvous with space cannot be completely ruled out. Micro-satellites such as the one used by China can be also used for non-kinetic communication or surveillance missions. Meanwhile, it would be unrealistic to expect China to reveal the truth behind the erratic maneuvers of BX-1. Nevertheless, this incident has ignited a debate among informed circles.
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