AFFTC Histories - F-15 ASAT

Dazzling technology and heated controversy surrounded the Air Force's prototype anti-satellite system--or ASAT. It consisted of a modified Boeing SRAM missile first stage, a modified Vought Altair 3 second stage, and a Vought miniature homing vehicle that would be launched from a modified single place F-15 to intercept and destroy enemy military satellites in relatively low earth orbits by means of high-speed collision. Measuring 17 feet 10 inches in length and weighing just 2,700 pounds, the relatively small vehicle had aroused a huge storm of controversy in Washington, D.C., because of the alleged "destabilizing" effects it would have on the chances for meaningful arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union. The political debate in Washington had a direct impact on the progress of the test program at Edwards, as opponents of the system jockeyed to prevent testing of the missile against actual targets in space. This caused both uncertainty and delays as the F-15 ASAT Combined Test Force strove to meet critical milestones. The Flight Test Center was actually only a participating test organization (PTO) in the evaluation of the ASAT system. Space Division served as the system program office and the Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenberg AFB was the titular responsible test organization (RTO). The Flight Test Center, however, had a very substantial role to play.