Spy Satellite: Ready! Aim! Fire!
c>log
An announcement was made yesterday by the Pentagon that the U.S.A. plans to shoot down the spy satellite that is in a declining orbit around the earth. Officials said this action is intended to down the satellite before it returns to earth because of a toxic fuel on-board called hydrazine. The Pentagon insists that the shoot-down is not military posturing, a show of force or a show of military technology. Pentagon officials have said that they plan on using modified SM-3 missiles which will be fired from a navy cruiser stationed off the Northwest coast of Hawaii.
This is the first time a tactical weapon will be used to engage and destroy a spacecraft. Left alone, the spy satellite would hit earth around the first week of March. Approximately one-half of the 5,000 pound spy satellite would survive its descent through the earth's atmosphere. The spy satellite, formally known as USA-193, malfunctioned after launch in December of 2006. The spy satellite contains 1,000 pounds of frozen hydrazine and the metal tanks containing the toxin could survive re-entry to the earth's atmosphere. Hydrazine is very dangerous to humans and the environment.
Military officials said that there is an 80% chance of hitting the wayward spy satellite. The shoot-down attempt would be made when the spy satellite is at an altitude of around 150 miles high. The opportunity for the shoot-down opens in 3 or 4 days and lasts about a week. The spy satellite must be downed before it hits the earth's atmosphere. Otherwise, normal atmospheric disturbances would make hitting the spy satellite "next to impossible."
Perhaps this is the real reason for shooting down the spy satellite: "We are worried about something showing up on eBay," intelligence expert John Pike told the Associated Press. "What they have to be worrried about is that a souvenir collector is going to find some piece, put it on eBay and the Chinese buy it," said Pike.
Related c>log Article:
Heads Up: Spy Satellite Falls To Earth
An announcement was made yesterday by the Pentagon that the U.S.A. plans to shoot down the spy satellite that is in a declining orbit around the earth. Officials said this action is intended to down the satellite before it returns to earth because of a toxic fuel on-board called hydrazine. The Pentagon insists that the shoot-down is not military posturing, a show of force or a show of military technology. Pentagon officials have said that they plan on using modified SM-3 missiles which will be fired from a navy cruiser stationed off the Northwest coast of Hawaii.
 |
This is the first time a tactical weapon will be used to engage and destroy a spacecraft. Left alone, the spy satellite would hit earth around the first week of March. Approximately one-half of the 5,000 pound spy satellite would survive its descent through the earth's atmosphere. The spy satellite, formally known as USA-193, malfunctioned after launch in December of 2006. The spy satellite contains 1,000 pounds of frozen hydrazine and the metal tanks containing the toxin could survive re-entry to the earth's atmosphere. Hydrazine is very dangerous to humans and the environment.
 |
Military officials said that there is an 80% chance of hitting the wayward spy satellite. The shoot-down attempt would be made when the spy satellite is at an altitude of around 150 miles high. The opportunity for the shoot-down opens in 3 or 4 days and lasts about a week. The spy satellite must be downed before it hits the earth's atmosphere. Otherwise, normal atmospheric disturbances would make hitting the spy satellite "next to impossible."
Perhaps this is the real reason for shooting down the spy satellite: "We are worried about something showing up on eBay," intelligence expert John Pike told the Associated Press. "What they have to be worrried about is that a souvenir collector is going to find some piece, put it on eBay and the Chinese buy it," said Pike.
Related c>log Article:
Heads Up: Spy Satellite Falls To Earth
Comments