http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200802/20080222400018.html
成功擊毀失控衛星 美認飛彈防禦系統有效
法新社╱林治平 2008-02-22 06:05
(法新社夏威夷檀香山二十一日電)美國國防部長蓋茨今天表示,美國成功擊毀一枚失控的衛星,顯示飛彈防禦系統有其效用。他並表示,美國預備與中國分享這次射擊衛星任務的部分資料。
美國海軍出動多艘艦艇,支援在太平洋進行的這次發射飛彈任務。蓋茨在夏威夷檀香山視察其中一艘軍艦後告訴記者:「我想有關這種(飛彈防禦)能力是否能收效的問題已經解決。如今問題在於(美國面臨)何種威脅,多大的威脅,以及多複雜的威脅。」
國防部發布聲明說,「伊利湖號」巡洋艦昨晚發射一枚標準三型戰術飛彈,擊中這枚體積有如巴士的人造衛星,當時這顆間諜衛星位於太平洋上空約兩百五十公里處,以上萬公里時速飛行。
記者問起中國要求華府提供這次射擊衛星行動的數據一事時,蓋茨表示:「我們準備適當分享任何能夠分享的資料。」
他表示,美國政府的態度是要「完全透明,讓大家知道事情經過以及這次行動的目的」。
美國軍方否認這次行動意在展示武力,堅稱目的是要保護民眾免於受到這枚載有危險毒性燃料的失控衛星危害。
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080221/pl_afp/usmilitarysatellitemissiledefense_080221200618
Satellite strike shows US missile defense works: Gates
Thu Feb 21, 3:06 PM ET
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that the successful shoot-down of a rogue US spy satellite demonstrated that America's missile defense system works.
"I think the operation speaks for itself in that respect," Gates told reporters here after touring one of the warships that supported the operation in the Pacific ocean.
"I think the question over whether this capability works has been settled," he said. "The question is what kind of threat, how large a threat, how sophisticated a threat (the United States faces)."
Late Wednesday, the USS Lake Erie fired a single modified tactical SM-3 missile that hit the schoolbus-sized satellite some 250 kilometers (150 miles) over the Pacific as it traveled at more than 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) per hour, the Pentagon said.
"We've had a number of successful tests and the fact that the Congress in recent years overwhelmingly has voted billions of dollar to continue with the missile defense program is testament to the fact that issue over whether it will work is behind us," Gates said.
Asked about China's request that Washington provide information about the satellite strike, Gates said: "We're prepared to share whatever, appropriately, we can."
He said the US governments approach has been one of "complete transparency and letting everybody know what was going on and the purpose of the activity."
The US military has denied that the strike had been planned as a show of force, insisting that its aim was to protect people from an out-of-control satellite loaded with dangerous toxic fuel.