This is not very good news. At least, not if you want to prevent the escalation of space-based weaponry.
On January 11, the Chinese used an aging weather satellite as an excuse to test an anti-satellite weapon.
Aviation Week has some of the details:
The test, if it occurred as envisioned by intelligence source, could also have left considerable space debris in an orbit used by many different satellites.
USAF radar reports on the Chinese FY-1C spacecraft have been posted once or twice daily for years, but those reports jumped to about 4 times per day just before the alleged test.
The USAF radar reports then ceased Jan. 11, but then appeared for a day showing “signs of orbital distress”. The reports were then halted again. The Air Force radars may well be busy cataloging many pieces of debris, sources said.
The BBC link I hooked to above is the first real media mention of it that I’ve seen outside of Aviation Week.
I’m not only mildly concerned, I’m kinda impressed.
UPDATE 1/19: Oh, CNN caught on.