An interesting summary of data collected on this launch from blogger kktt:http://liuqiankktt.blog.163.com/blog/static/121264211201341422610261/(in Chinese)
Quote from: input~2 on 05/14/2013 07:57 pmAn interesting summary of data collected on this launch from blogger kktt:http://liuqiankktt.blog.163.com/blog/static/121264211201341422610261/(in Chinese)Highlights, please? Once upon a time I resolved to learn to read Chinese, but so far I haven't.
Damn, someone DID caught it in Hong Kong! (click the picture for animation) It looks all but certain that whatever was launched 3 hours ago is something top secret, as described by someone at Xichang: http://lt.cjdby.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1614118
Ok, TLE2013-022C 1 39165U 13022C 13134.81968748 -.00000151 00000-0 00000+0 0 272 39165 49.5103 122.1512 5714712 354.1873 1.2137 4.42638024 07
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 05/13/2013 03:55 pmDamn, someone DID caught it in Hong Kong! (click the picture for animation) It looks all but certain that whatever was launched 3 hours ago is something top secret, as described by someone at Xichang: http://lt.cjdby.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1614118In my opinion, these images show a staging following immediately by the ignition of another stage. That stage burns for a short time and then appears to burn out. If this was viewed from Hong Kong, am I correct to surmise that the staging visible here would have to have been between, say, a second and a third stage? Would a pure "sounding rocket" have stages separating and starting like this?These all look like solid motor burns to my eyes. - Ed Kyle
A very strange NOTAM that indicates something being launched out of XSLC on the night of May 12 (missile test?): A0507/13 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N272440E1062527-N270348E1061854 -N271521E1053214-N273614E1053838BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-UNL.ALL ACFT ARE PROHIBITED TOFLY INTO THE AREA. SFC - UNL, 12 MAY 12:57 2013 UNTIL 12 MAY 13:46 2013. CREATED:10 MAY 06:48 2013There's another evidence that may or may not be related to this thing - report coming soon.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/us-china-launch-idUSBRE94E07D20130515From the above news source: this launch was identified by a Harvard professor as a scientific exploration.
For the record here is a link for the Washington Free Beacon articlehttp://freebeacon.com/china-conducts-test-of-new-anti-satellite-missile/The author leans in favor of a DongNeng-2 (动能-2) test.
Quote from: input~2 on 05/15/2013 01:26 pmFor the record here is a link for the Washington Free Beacon articlehttp://freebeacon.com/china-conducts-test-of-new-anti-satellite-missile/The author leans in favor of a DongNeng-2 (动能-2) test.What's not clear to me: - What is a Dong Neng 2? (what is the difference between a DN-2 and a DF-31 for instance?)- Is Dong Neng 2 actually a Chinese designation, has it appeared in Chinese public sources? I've only seen it mentioned in US sources (also DN-1 for that matter). Or is it one of those fake designations that the US intelligence community sometimes slaps on things (like Taepodong)
http://lt.cjdby.net/thread-1348649-1-1.htmlOriginal:我国的中段导弹拦截系统主要负责大气层外,对导弹飞行的中段进行拦截,这个系统大致包括陆基地井发射的动能-1号(DN-1)先进拦截弹,性能大致类似与美国的GMD大气层外拦截弹。除动能-1...Google Translate:Midcourse missile interception system in China is mainly responsible for the atmosphere, in the middle of the missile to intercept, the system generally includes the kinetic energy of the land base for silo launchers -1 (DN-1) advanced interceptor missile, performance is substantially similar to GMD outside the atmosphere with the United States interceptor missile. In addition to the kinetic energy -1...
Quote from: jcm on 05/15/2013 02:16 pmQuote from: input~2 on 05/15/2013 01:26 pmFor the record here is a link for the Washington Free Beacon articlehttp://freebeacon.com/china-conducts-test-of-new-anti-satellite-missile/The author leans in favor of a DongNeng-2 (动能-2) test.What's not clear to me: - What is a Dong Neng 2? (what is the difference between a DN-2 and a DF-31 for instance?)- Is Dong Neng 2 actually a Chinese designation, has it appeared in Chinese public sources? I've only seen it mentioned in US sources (also DN-1 for that matter). Or is it one of those fake designations that the US intelligence community sometimes slaps on things (like Taepodong)The DN designator apparently refers to "kinetic energy" (动能) and is not typical of US/WSSIC "facility designators" -- so I think it actually may be a Chinese designator. Whether it's official or just descriptive I couldn't say. FWIW,Quotehttp://lt.cjdby.net/thread-1348649-1-1.htmlOriginal:我国的中段导弹拦截系统主要负责大气层外,对导弹飞行的中段进行拦截,这个系统大致包括陆基地井发射的动能-1号(DN-1)先进拦截弹,性能大致类似与美国的GMD大气层外拦截弹。除动能-1...Google Translate:Midcourse missile interception system in China is mainly responsible for the atmosphere, in the middle of the missile to intercept, the system generally includes the kinetic energy of the land base for silo launchers -1 (DN-1) advanced interceptor missile, performance is substantially similar to GMD outside the atmosphere with the United States interceptor missile. In addition to the kinetic energy -1...
"We detected a launch on May 13 from within China. The launch appeared to be on a ballistic trajectory nearly to geosynchronous Earth orbit. We tracked several objects during the flight but did not observe the insertion of any objects into orbit and no objects associated with this launch remain in space.
Quote from: jcm on 05/16/2013 04:44 am"We detected a launch on May 13 from within China. The launch appeared to be on a ballistic trajectory nearly to geosynchronous Earth orbit. We tracked several objects during the flight but did not observe the insertion of any objects into orbit and no objects associated with this launch remain in space.2 more quotes of the same Pentagon spokeswoman declaration:http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/2013/May%202013/May%2016%202013/Chinese-Anti-Satellite-Test.aspxhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/us-china-launch-idUSBRE94E07D20130515