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Terra-3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terra-3 is a laser testing centre, located on the Sary Shagan anti-ballistic missile testing range.
Development of laser weapons in the Soviet Union began in 1964-1965.[1] Vympel OKB was amongst the first to be given work on these weapons. In the 1970's they built the Terra-3 complex for research purposes. It was meant as an ABM and ASAT weapon, but even the Astrofizika high energy red ruby and carbon dioxide lasers that were eventually installed proved to be insufficient for use against ballistic missiles. The first applications would have to be limited to anti-satellite, and then primarily to blind optical sensors.[2]
On 10 October 1984 the Soviet Minister of Defence, Dmitry Ustinov, ordered a warning shot from the Terra-3 complex at the Challenger shuttle, in response to the Strategic Defense Initiative plans a year earlier, and the continued military use of the shuttle. Even though the shuttle was illuminated with a low power laser, it caused malfunctions to on-board equipment and discomfort (possibly even temporary blinding) of the crew.[3]
- ^ Federation of American Scientists - "ABM And Space Defense"
- ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica - "Terra-3"
- ^ Lieutenant Colonel Boris Kononenko (June 1996). Federation of American Scientists - "Silent Space Is Being Monitored". Retrieved on December 11, 2006.