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February 20, 2008 8:50 PM PST

Missile strikes ailing U.S. spy satellite

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Missile strikes ailing U.S. spy satellite
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Shooting down satellites with much China-U.S. consternation


February 19, 2008
A missile fired from a Navy ship struck an ailing U.S. spy satellite Wednesday night and probably succeeded in destroying a toxic fuel tank on board.

The SM-3 missile was fired from the USS Lake Erie in the Pacific at about 7:26 PST and collided with the satellite about 130 miles above the ocean, the Pentagon said in a statement.

"Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to reenter the earth's atmosphere immediately," the statement said. "Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should reenter within 40 days."

"Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours," it added.

missile gallery

However, the Associated Press cited an unnamed defense official close to the situation who said officials monitoring the operation saw what appeared to be an explosion, apparently from the fuel tank.

The Pentagon announced last week that President Bush had decided the Navy would try to shoot down the satellite before it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere because its fuel tank contained approximately 1,000 pounds of hazardous hydrazine.

However, some countries had expressed doubts about the operation, with some such as Russia characterizing the operation as little more than a thinly veiled arms test.

See more CNET content tagged:
missile, debris, satellite, tank, operation

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (52 Comments)
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AYE, AYE SCOTTY!....
by Commander_Spock February 20, 2008 9:57 PM PST
HOW ABOUT BEAMING SOME PICTURES OF THIS MISSILE STRIKE LIVE BACK TO PLANET EARTH VIA IBM'S LOTUS SAMETIME "VIDEO" CONFERENCING!

ALSO, THE GUT FEELING IS THAT THE US NAVY IS RUNNING OS/2 WARP LIKE THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION DOES FOR THEIR SATELLITE LAUNCH PROGRAMS.

END OF TRANSMISSION.....

COMMANDER_SPOCK
Reply to this comment
The Navy is running Windows not Warp
by rcrusoe February 21, 2008 4:02 AM PST
Actually, and this is really scary, a lot of the Navy's "smart ships"
are apparently running on Windows these days. An early version
of the software (Windows for Warships) crippled the USS
Yorktown to the point where it had to be towed back to harbor.

The next time you watch an old war movie like "Sink the
Bismark" think about our ships being "sunk" not by shells from
16 inch guns, but by a malicious email.

http://www.gcn.com/print/17_17/33727-1.html
spam warning, Mr. Spock
by Seaspray0 February 21, 2008 7:51 AM PST
Commander Spock's continual posts referencing OS/2 when it has no relavence to the story is nothing short of spam... unsolicited junk.

Please END your transmissions, Commander Spock.
View all 2 replies
Error error error
by sanenazok February 21, 2008 9:37 AM PST
Right away sir!
View reply
pics
by variezn34gm February 28, 2008 2:44 PM PST
cool sit tite end of transmission
Missle Strikes Satellite
by Fareed17 February 20, 2008 10:06 PM PST
Job Well Done, pending damage assessment.
Reply to this comment
Missle Strikes Satellite
by Fareed17 February 20, 2008 10:11 PM PST
Pending Damage Assessment.
Reply to this comment
"some such as Russia"... Umm, yeah, and most Americans!!
by MyRightEye February 20, 2008 10:51 PM PST
What on earth do they take us for?? Oh, that's right, SHEEPLE...
Reply to this comment
So what?
by sigzero February 21, 2008 3:38 AM PST
Of course it was a test and a good one at that. I could care less
what Russia thinks about it.
View reply
hydrazine shower
by bdplaid February 21, 2008 4:58 AM PST
I suppose you'd prefer the hydrazine to come down on your head?
View reply
Heh
by sigzero February 21, 2008 3:39 AM PST
I know they used to. I set something up at one point using OS/2. I
hope they have migrated off of that by now as that was a good 10
years ago.
Reply to this comment
Logical Teachings,Thinking and Solutions!
by Commander_Spock February 21, 2008 6:49 AM PST
Why would it not be IBM and their OS/2 Warp when IBM was there when Britain needed them to help with the U2's that were landing in London. Follow the logic teachings like the Russian Space Federation have done.

See: "(RUS) Astronauts Training Complex" and "(RUS) Program and firmware set for servicing of the carrier rockets" here:

http://en.ecomstation.ru/solutions/
Reply to this comment
?
by mikalg February 21, 2008 8:10 AM PST
What on Gods green Earth are you even talking about?
View all 5 replies
What about my Sushi?
by anon8mizer February 22, 2008 5:48 PM PST
Is it safe to eat now?
Reply to this comment
If it was too dangerous to allow for re-entry
by The_Decider February 23, 2008 2:06 PM PST
Then why in the hell did they launch it in the first place? Isn't that very irresponsible and reckless?

What would have happened if an explosion during launch happened?

Why don't people ask the obvious questions?
Reply to this comment
Hey "The_Decider"!
by Commander_Spock February 23, 2008 6:12 PM PST
Would it not be even more "irresponsible and reckless" for the "shepherds to go to sleep" and not care too hoot if the "wolves" came at midnight and devoured the flocks. Did you happen to know anyone who worked at the WTC or at the Pentagon prior to 9/11?
View reply
not irresponsible
by dmbyanks05 February 23, 2008 8:53 PM PST
it was not irresponsible. that is the fuel that is used for sattelites and its was supposed to burn off while in orbit. But since it lost communication after launch it could not take orders on when to use its fuel.... therefor full fuel tank. it was not designed to reign down on people
View all 2 replies
here is an obvious question for you....
by mikalg February 24, 2008 6:52 PM PST
Why would they build the "twin towers" if it was going to be destroyed anyway? 'er trade perhaps?

Are you serious with your question/statement?

I am beginning to really dislike you and your posts. At least it isn't Anti-MS related!
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