Why was the 1985 ASAT test not continued?

• A. The test was only marginally successful, so the Air Force decided not to continue development.
• B. The test triggered protests from Moscow, so the President prohibited further testing.
• C. U.S. leaders believed the successful test was intimidating enough that the Soviets would be deterred from aggression in space even without further ASAT system development.
• D. The test angered Congress, which was concerned that ASAT development could trigger an arms race and had previously banned testing this system.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that political and arms-control concerns can stop a program even after a successful demonstration. The 1985 ASAT test showed the capability to destroy a satellite, but lawmakers worried that continuing development would spark an arms race in space and destabilize strategic balance. Congress had already barred testing this kind of system, and the decision to continue was blocked by those legislative restrictions. So the program wasn’t pursued further because of domestic policy constraints targeting space weapons and arms racing, not because the test failed or because of protests or deterring the Soviets on its own.