Which entry describes the ASAT test that destroyed a satellite?

• A. Explorer 1 launch
• B. Navstar GPS launch
• C. Yuri Gagarin spaceflight
• D. US ASAT test destroying Solwind satellite

Answer: (D)

Anti-satellite (ASAT) testing demonstrates the ability to disable or destroy satellites in orbit. The entry that describes the US ASAT test destroying the Solwind satellite is the best match because it explicitly refers to an ASAT weapon test in which a satellite was destroyed in space, illustrating this capability. In 1985, the United States conducted such a test using an anti-satellite missile to intercept and destroy the Solwind satellite, an event that highlighted the potential for space-based weapons and the debris it can create. The other options are important space milestones—launching a first US satellite, launching a navigation system, and the first human in space—but none describe an ASAT test or satellite destruction.