Talks aim to curb killer satellites

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 6

Talks aim to curb killer satellites

( NZPA-Reuter Helsinki 1 The United States and the ’ Soviet Union have begun [ talks in Helsinki on controlling the production of I space vehicles capable of destroying or capturing . other satellites. • American experts have 1 said the Soviet Union has 1 twice successfully used such I vehicles to blow up Soviet target satellites. The United States is heli lieved to trail the Soviet ; Union in this branch ol weaponry. The Defence Sec- , retary (Mr Harold Brown; 'recently asked Congress for ! S73M to develop space warfare techniques and the [United States Air Force ha« 1 earmarked S6OM for the production of anti-satellite systems. The Russians are believed ito be watching closely the , progress of the Unitec ‘States space shuttle, due tc begin flights next year. This reusable space plane will be able to snatch sate!1 lites intact, allowing American experts to study them in space before returning them to orbit. Ambassador Oleg Hlestov, heading the Soviet team at the talks, said they would open a new aspect of disarmament. He emphasised his country’s detente interests but said the new talks I should not be linked to the Strategic Arms Limitation I Talks. ; The American side Is led by Mr Paul Warnke, chief of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, whose attendance underscores the importance the Administration attaches to the talks. Mr Warnke flew into Helsinki from Geneva, where he had been holding S.A.L.T. talks with the Soviet Depu-ty-Foreign Minister (Mr Vladimir Semyonov). He , said he might not be able to I stay throughout the talks, but that should not hinder their progress. The two super-Power> have already agreed not to launch mass-destruction weapons into space or use space for experiments with i such weaponry. They have also agreed to tefrain from - interfering with spy satellites. However, most of the 1500 military satellites so far launched, many of which arc no longer in orbit, would not fall into this category and would therefore be obvious targets for hunterkiller satellites.