Navy missile intercepts decaying satellite
Posted: Thu, Feb 21, 2008, 7:52 AM ET (1252 GMT)
A missile launched from a US Navy ship in the Pacific late Wednesday hit a defunct satellite in a decaying orbit, although officials said it could take up to a day to determine the results of the intercept. The Navy launched a single modified SM-3 missile from the cruiser USS Lake Erie at 10:26 pm EST Wednesday (0326 GMT Thursday), hitting the USA 193 satellite moments later at an altitude of 247 kilometers. Pentagon officials said the impact appeared to be a direct hit, but it would take up to 24 hours to measure the results of the intercept, including whether the spacecraft's fuel tank was ruptured. The US announced a week ago that it planned to break up the satellite, an experimental reconnaissance satellite that failed shortly after launch in December 2006, before the spacecraft performed an uncontrolled reentry. The primary reason for the intercept, officials said, was to prevent the satellite's fuel tank, which contains over 450 kilograms of frozen hydrazine fuel, from surviving the reentry intact. Others have speculated the intercept is a means to prevent any sensitive technology on the satellite from falling into foreign hands, as well as to demonstrate the US's missile defense capabilities.
A missile launched from a US Navy ship in the Pacific late Wednesday hit a defunct satellite in a decaying orbit, although officials said it could take up to a day to determine the results of the intercept. The Navy launched a single modified SM-3 missile from the cruiser USS Lake Erie at 10:26 pm EST Wednesday (0326 GMT Thursday), hitting the USA 193 satellite moments later at an altitude of 247 kilometers. Pentagon officials said the impact appeared to be a direct hit, but it would take up to 24 hours to measure the results of the intercept, including whether the spacecraft's fuel tank was ruptured. The US announced a week ago that it planned to break up the satellite, an experimental reconnaissance satellite that failed shortly after launch in December 2006, before the spacecraft performed an uncontrolled reentry. The primary reason for the intercept, officials said, was to prevent the satellite's fuel tank, which contains over 450 kilograms of frozen hydrazine fuel, from surviving the reentry intact. Others have speculated the intercept is a means to prevent any sensitive technology on the satellite from falling into foreign hands, as well as to demonstrate the US's missile defense capabilities.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 5
Marles claims JP9102 axing is 'change of direction, not cancellation', as industry picks up the pieces
Defence Connect (Australia) — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) SpaceX Cargo Dragon Heads To Space Station
Aviation Week — 5:52 am ET (1052 GMT) Centaur upper stage installation recognizes trailblazing space program
US Space Force — 5:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Fifth time’s a charm as H3 rocket puts defense satellite in orbit
Japan Times — 5:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Why it costs India so little to reach the Moon and Mars
BBC — 5:46 am ET (1046 GMT) |
