[FPSPACE] Next up...release of the small satellite

[jeoberg at comcast.net]

Here's more on the dispute: the well-known "we-are-the-bad-guys" lobby group,
the so-called  'Union of concerned Scientists' in Cambridge, Mass, quickly issued
a white paper that supposedly proved that the subsatellite was no threat. But I can't
get the pdf to open.

They reportedly claim that the subsatellite is only going to operate with a 
cooperative Shenzhou-7 OM at close range. If factually correct, this clarifies
some earlier assumptions and claims made about the satellite. 

Jim O

Chinese Shenzhou 7 'Companion' Satellite Poses No Military Threat  
Kansas City InfoZine - Sep 27 2:21 AM
   News organizations recently reported that Chinese Shenzhou 7 astronauts this weekend will release a small soccer-ball sized "companion" satellite with a camera that will maneuver around the Shenzhou space capsule to broadcast China's first space walk.
   Original link not valid – found on host http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/30942/

Chinese Shenzhou 7 'Companion' Satellite Poses No Military Threat
Saturday, September 27, 2008 :: infoZine Staff 
   News organizations recently reported that Chinese Shenzhou 7 astronauts this weekend will release a small soccer-ball sized "companion" satellite with a camera that will maneuver around the Shenzhou space capsule to broadcast China's first space walk.
   Cambridge, MA infoZine - There have been few details in the Western press about the satellite. Nevertheless, Chinese development of a mini-satellite that could maneuver around a larger satellite has raised some questions about its potential military uses. 
   However, a Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis of the satellite's guidance mechanism indicates that it poses no threat. It can only maneuver at close range around a "cooperative" satellite, and therefore could not be used for close range "proximity operations" around another country's satellite.
   http://ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/international_information/us_china_relations/chinese-shenzhou-7-companion.html

http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/nwgs/Shenzhou7SatBackgrounder-9-26-08.pdf




 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: agzak at optonline.net
> Yes, Jim, in the warped ideology of American nationalism, the US intercept of a 
> satellite, which has no chance of surviving the reentry, is a peaceful mission, 
> but a Chinese manned spacecraft practicing a rendezvous in space is a hostile 
> action. 
> 
> Congratulations to China. This might be a small step for US and Russia, but a 
> giant leap for the Chinese. :)
> 
> Anatoly Zak
> http://www.russianspaceweb.com
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: jeoberg at comcast.net
> Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008 7:51 am
> Subject: Re: [FPSPACE] Next up...release of the small satellite
> To: John Locker <john at satcom.freeserve.co.uk>, SeeSat-L at satobs.org
> Cc: fpspace at friends-partners.org
> 
> > Does the subsatellite have any pedigree related to the 
> > Surreysat payloads flown earlier?
> > 
> > Re-rendezvous with an inert (presumably) target does not seem to me
> > to be a step towards manned docking missions -- it smells more like
> > an uncooperative inspection mission.
> > 
> > -------------- Original message -------------- 
> > From: "John Locker" <john at satcom.freeserve.co.uk> 
> > 
> > > Understand the satellite , once released will move out to a 
> > distance of 4km 
> > > Not sure what the purpose of the sat is although understand it is 
> > a an 
> > > imaging bird.Speculation as to whether it will examine the 
> > outside of 
> > > Shenzhou 7 
> > > 
> > > John 
> > > 
> > > http://satcom.website.orange.co.uk/ 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________ 
> > > FPSPACE mailing list 
> > > FPSPACE at friends-partners.org 
> > > http://www.friends-partners.org/mailman/listinfo/fpspace 
> > 
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