- SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED FULL
- SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED CODE
- SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED SERIES
“Our program was challenged to develop a dynamic weapon system that could respond rapidly, accurately, and with flexible targeting capability. His bullet was the multi-stage ASM-135 missile, developed by LTV Aerospace. In 1978, in response to the Soviets’ co-orbital ASAT system, the Carter administration launched the program that led to Major Pearson’s remarkable shot. “So we wanted to be able to take out those observation satellites so that we could maneuver our carrier battle group and regain the element of surprise.”
“One of the things they could do with those reconnaissance satellites is observe our military forces literally all over the world, but primarily our ships,” says Pearson. The United States was also increasingly concerned about Soviet surveillance satellites. satellites from Soviet anti-satellite weapons,” says Brian Weeden, director of program planning for the Secure World Foundation. “The Ford administration was growing increasingly concerned about how protect U.S.
SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED SERIES
In a series of now-declassified 1976 memos to President Gerald Ford, National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft laid out the urgent recommendations of a National Security Council panel to develop non-nuclear ASAT capabilities.
SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED FULL
But the co-orbital systems also had a major drawback-syncing the ASAT vehicle with its target required at least two full orbits of Earth, which gave the target three to five hours to maneuver out of the ASAT’s reach.īy the mid-1970s, the United States still did not have a viable ASAT program. The Soviets carried out tests of these systems from the 1960s into the early 1980s, successfully destroying several targets. Their satellite killers were co-orbital-designed to reach orbit, sync up with their targets, and detonate, sending shrapnel out to destroy enemy satellites. agencies and corporations were pursuing ASAT research, so was the Soviet Union. And in the weeks and months after detonation, additional satellites would succumb to the increased radiation in low Earth orbit.Īt the same time U.S.
The resulting electromagnetic pulse would also destroy nearby untargeted satellites. Using nuclear explosions to destroy satellites-something that was tested during the Thor program-had a big flaw. (After one launch missed in 1963, a Nike-Zeus intercepted and destroyed an Athena upper-stage target vehicle.) A ground-launched system situated on the equator has advantages: Nearly every low-Earth-orbit satellite will eventually pass overhead. In the early 1960s, adapted versions of the ground-launched Nike-Zeus and Thor anti-ballistic missiles systems were tested in the south Pacific for possible ASAT use. Although each system was tested, none went into operation. In 1962, the Navy experimented with a system that launched a similar missile from a McDonnell F-4 Phantom. experimental ASAT weapons were air-launched ballistic missiles, including Bold Orion, launched from an Air Force B-47 Stratojet, and High Virgo, launched from a Convair B-58 Hustler. Fears of nuclear-armed Soviet satellites drove early development of American ASAT weapons systems, which were themselves based on nuclear-tipped missiles launched from aircraft, submarines, or the ground.ĭuring 19, the first U.S. The anti-satellite (ASAT) arms race began just after the first beeps came back from Sputnik I, in October 1957. Although a fighter pilot earns the title “ace” only after five victories, Pearson’s unique, outside-the-atmosphere bull’s-eye could define a new space category. It remains a unique moment in the complicated, ever-evolving race between rival space powers. “He just keyed the microphone and I heard all the screaming and hollering and yelling and cheering in the background.”įor the first time in history, a satellite had been shot out of space by an airplane. Well, Scott never had to say a word,” Pearson laughs. Recommend you go to 28,000 feet’ or some different number. That’s a good altitude.’ And if we missed, you’ll say, ‘Roger, Aggie-1. Recalls Pearson: “I’d tell him ‘I’m going to level off at 36,000 feet.’ And if we’ve had a successful intercept, you’ll say, ‘Roger, Aggie-1.
SPACE FORCE COMMANDER FIRED CODE
They worked out a code so Pearson could find out when he radioed Scott after the launch. But his friend Scott in the control room would know.
As the missile disappeared from view, all Pearson could do was wait-he wouldn’t be able to see if it had hit the target. The missile roared toward its target, the Solwind P78-1 satellite moving at 17,500 mph, almost 300 miles above Pearson’s aircraft. He was in a steep vertical climb, flying at just under Mach 1, and was at 36,000 feet. On September 13, 1985, at 12:42 p.m., Major Wilbert “Doug” Pearson pushed the “pickle button” in the cockpit of his F-15A, launching a missile high over the Pacific Ocean.
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