Which specific satellite was destroyed in the significant 2007 Chinese ASAT test?
Answer
Fengyun-1C
The 2007 anti-satellite (ASAT) test conducted by China stands out as the most substantial single event contributor to the modern debris population stemming from intentional destruction. This specific test involved targeting and neutralizing the Fengyun-1C satellite, which was an older weather satellite. The resulting fragmentation from this high-energy impact immediately generated thousands of pieces of trackable debris orbiting Earth. This event dramatically illustrated the immediate and severe risk that intentional destructive tests pose to the orbital environment, as the resulting cloud of high-velocity shrapnel endangers all other operational assets nearby.
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