Terra-3 is a laser testing centre, located on the Sary Shagan anti-ballistic missile testing range in Karagandy Province of Kazakhstan.
Development of laser weapons in the Soviet Union began in 1964-1965.[1] 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 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]
The lasers at the Terra-3 site were used to shoot the Space Shuttle Challenger 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.[3][4]
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