News

 

DATE=  10/2/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220729

TITLE=U-S LASER TEST (S)

BYLINE=REBECCA MCMENAMIN

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS GIVEN THE 

GO-AHEAD FOR A CONTROVERSIAL TEST IN WHICH A GROUND-BASED LASER 

WILL BE FIRED AT AN AGING MILITARY SATELLITE.  VOA'S REBECCA 

MCMENAMIN HAS THIS REPORT ON WHAT WILL BE THE FIRST EXPERIMENT OF

ITS KIND.



TEXT:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT IS TO

TEST THE VULNERABILITY OF U-S SATELLITES TO LASERS -- SOMETHING 

THAT COULD BE CRITICAL IN TIMES OF WARFARE GIVEN THE INCREASING 

DEPENDENCY ON SPACE PROBES FOR COMMUNICATIONS.



THE GROUND-BASED LASER, OPERATED BY U-S FORCES IN THE WESTERN 

STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WILL INITIALLY FIRE BRIEF ILLIMUNATIONS TO 

LOCATE THE SATELLITE.  THEN IT WILL ILLUMINATE THE PROBE FOR LESS

THAN 10 SECONDS TO TEST THE IMPACT OF THE LASER BEAM.



THE EXPERIMENT IS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IF 

WEATHER PERMITS.



DEFENSE SPOKESMEN SAY THE TEST IS FULLY CONSISTENT WITH U-S 

POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.  HOWEVER, CRITICS ARGUE THE LASER 

TEST COULD FUEL A NEW SPACE-BASED ARMS RACE -- REMINISCENT OF THE

COLD WAR.



THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TEST WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE END 

OF A NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING IN THE DUTCH CITY OF 

MAASTRICHT. BILLED AS INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS, THE TALKS HAVE 

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE ROLE OF NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA -- AND NATO 

EXPANSION. (SIGNED)



NEB/RJM/KL



02-Oct-97 10:47 AM EDT (1447 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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