Terra-3
Encyclopedia
Terra-3 is a laser
testing centre, located on the Sary Shagan
anti-ballistic missile
testing range in Karagandy Province of Kazakhstan
. 45.848°N 73.518°E
and ASAT
weapon, but even the Astrofizika high energy red ruby and carbon dioxide laser
s that were eventually installed proved to be insufficient for use against ballistic missile
s. The first applications would have to be limited to anti-satellite, and then primarily to blind optical sensors
.
in 1984. At the time, the Soviets were concerned that the shuttle was being used as a reconnaissance platform. On 10 October 1984 (STS-41-G
), the Terra-3 tracking laser was used to fire a warning shot at Challenger as it passed overhead. The laser shot caused “malfunctions on the space shuttle and distress to the crew.” The United States filed a diplomatic protest about the incident.
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
testing centre, located on the Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan is an anti-ballistic missile testing range located in Kazakhstan at coordinates .On 17 August 1956 the Soviet Council of Ministers authorized plans for an experimental facility for missile defense located at Sary Shagan, on the west bank of Lake Balkhash...
anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
testing range in Karagandy Province of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. 45.848°N 73.518°E
Development
Development of laser weapons in the Soviet Union began in 1964-1965. Vympel OKB was among the companies working on these weapons. In the 1970s, they built the Terra-3 complex for research purposes. It was meant as an ABMAnti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
and ASAT
Anti-satellite weapon
Anti-satellite weapons are designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for strategic military purposes. Currently, only the United States, the former Soviet Union, and the People's Republic of China are known to have developed these weapons. On September 13, 1985, the United States destroyed US...
weapon, but even the Astrofizika high energy red ruby and carbon dioxide laser
Carbon dioxide laser
The carbon dioxide laser was one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed , and is still one of the most useful. Carbon dioxide lasers are the highest-power continuous wave lasers that are currently available...
s that were eventually installed proved to be insufficient for use against ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
s. The first applications would have to be limited to anti-satellite, and then primarily to blind optical sensors
Dazzler (weapon)
A dazzler is a directed-energy weapon intended to temporarily blind or disorient its target with intense directed radiation. Targets can include sensors or human vision. Dazzlers emit infrared or visible light against various electronic sensors, and visible light against humans, when they are...
.
Challenger space shuttle
The lasers at the Terra-3 site were used to shoot the Space Shuttle ChallengerSpace Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
in 1984. At the time, the Soviets were concerned that the shuttle was being used as a reconnaissance platform. On 10 October 1984 (STS-41-G
STS-41-G
STS 41-G was the 13th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the sixth flight of Space Shuttle Challenger. Challenger launched on 5 October 1984, and conducted the second shuttle landing at Kennedy Space Center on 13 October...
), the Terra-3 tracking laser was used to fire a warning shot at Challenger as it passed overhead. The laser shot caused “malfunctions on the space shuttle and distress to the crew.” The United States filed a diplomatic protest about the incident.