A recent one report from The Debrief reveals that China may have developed a mysterious space weapon that can fire high-velocity projectiles and damage or destroy satellites in orbit. The weapon, called a “force gun” by some experts, is believed to be a type of railgun or coilgun that uses electromagnetic energy to fire projectiles.
The report cites a 2019 paper by Chinese researchers describing a “space-based kinetic energy weapon” that could be mounted on a satellite and used to attack other satellites or space debris. The paper claims the weapon can reach speeds of up to 10 kilometers per second, which is enough to cause significant damage to any target.
The report also cites a 2020 paper by another Chinese researcher suggesting the power gun could be used to create artificial meteor showers by firing projectiles into the atmosphere.
The article states that this could have both civilian and military applications, such as creating spectacular light shows or disrupting enemy communications.
The Debrief notes that there is no conclusive evidence that China has actually deployed or tested the power cannon in space, but there are some indications that it has done so.
For example, in 2018, China launched a satellite called Shiyan-7, which was reportedly equipped with a robotic arm that could be used to manipulate or capture other satellites. However, some observers speculated that the satellite could also carry a power cannon or similar weapon.
The report also notes that China carried out a series of mysterious launches of small satellites in 2019 that were not registered with the United Nations or publicly announced. Some of these satellites may have been part of a secret program to test the force gun or other anti-satellite weapons.
The Debrief warns that the development of the force gun poses a serious threat to the security and stability of space as it could spark an arms race and increase the risk of conflict. The report urges the international community to establish standards and rules for the peaceful use of space and to prevent the weaponization of space.
