US spysat fails, will deorbit
Posted: Sun, Jan 27, 2008, 10:35 AM ET (1535 GMT)
A US reconnaissance satellite has failed in orbit and will reenter in about a month, government officials confirmed Saturday. The unidentified spacecraft has lost all power in orbit and has failed to respond to commands from the ground and is slowly losing altitude. At its current rate, the spacecraft would reenter the Earth's atmosphere in late February or early March. Officials did not identify the satellite in question, but reports indicated the spacecraft was the size of a "small bus", suggesting that it is a photo reconnaissance satellite. Other reports indicate it was an NRO satellite launched on a Delta 2 in December 2006 that failed shortly after reaching orbit.
A US reconnaissance satellite has failed in orbit and will reenter in about a month, government officials confirmed Saturday. The unidentified spacecraft has lost all power in orbit and has failed to respond to commands from the ground and is slowly losing altitude. At its current rate, the spacecraft would reenter the Earth's atmosphere in late February or early March. Officials did not identify the satellite in question, but reports indicated the spacecraft was the size of a "small bus", suggesting that it is a photo reconnaissance satellite. Other reports indicate it was an NRO satellite launched on a Delta 2 in December 2006 that failed shortly after reaching orbit.
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