[southnews] US to shoot rogue spy satellite
 
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:32:40 -0600 (CST)



US Warships in the North Pacific will fire a tactical missile at the 
2300-kilogram satellite when it reaches a low orbit of about 130 
nautical miles over their general area.

The US Government has never before resorted to shooting down a 
spacecraft or satellite, despite dozens of crashes and 
re-entries.Officials said this time was different because the satellite 
failed just after its launch in December 2006, leaving almost all of its 
450 kilograms of hydrazine rocket fuel frozen in the uncontrollable 
spacecraft.

A military analyst, John Pike, who specialises in space-based weapons 
and intelligence systems, said: "I'm not arguing that hydrazine isn't a 
problem. But they're so concerned in normal circumstances about things 
falling into the wrong hands that I'm not sure I believe them."

US officials condemned China after learning last year that it had shot 
down an ageing weather satellite
_________________________________________________________________________.

US to shoot rogue spy satellite

LOS ANGELES TIMES: February 16 2008

Peter Spiegel and Ben Dubose

THE US Government has decided to try to shoot down an out-of-control spy 
satellite.

Officials say they fear its rocket fuel could turn into a deadly toxic 
gas if the craft crashed in a populated area.

The unusual operation, to be carried out in a few days' time, would be 
the first US attempt to shoot down a satellite since military tests 
ended in the 1980s, amid the Cold War.

Pentagon officials plan to use the same ships and missiles that are part 
of the nascent missile-defence system.

Warships in the North Pacific will fire a tactical missile at the 
2300-kilogram satellite when it reaches a low orbit of about 130 
nautical miles over their general area.

Some experts suggested that the Bush Administration was influenced by 
concern that classified components on the intelligence satellite could 
fall into hostile hands.

Denying that, General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, said any sensitive instruments would burn on re-entry.

The US Government has never before resorted to shooting down a 
spacecraft or satellite, despite dozens of crashes and re-entries.

Officials said this time was different because the satellite failed just 
after its launch in December 2006, leaving almost all of its 450 
kilograms of hydrazine rocket fuel frozen in the uncontrollable spacecraft.

General Cartwright compared it with a bus, with only half the craft 
likely to burn on re-entry.

That means the fuel tank could survive if it is not destroyed by the 
missile strike.

Normally, ageing satellites  their fuel mostly used up  are steered 
into the ocean at the end of their life. But with the spy satellite's 
power and communications inoperable, it is tumbling, unguided, to Earth.

Officials compared the effects of hydrazine with chlorine or ammonia. 
"If you stay very close to it and inhale a lot of it, it could in fact 
be deadly," General Cartwright said.

When the looming crash was announced last month, National Security 
Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe minimised the danger, and said the 
potential for pieces hitting any populated area was "very small".

A military analyst, John Pike, who specialises in space-based weapons 
and intelligence systems, said: "I'm not arguing that hydrazine isn't a 
problem. But they're so concerned in normal circumstances about things 
falling into the wrong hands that I'm not sure I believe them."

US officials condemned China after learning last year that it had shot 
down an ageing weather satellite.

That incident recharged an international debate over space weapons.

In contrast with the more secretive Chinese operation, US officials said 
they had told countries around the world of their decision.

The officials also said the Chinese destroyed their satellite at a 
higher orbit, which left debris orbiting the Earth.

The US Navy ships will be modified so the missiles can be used to shoot 
down the satellite.

But General Cartwright said those changes would consist of minor 
software modifications, meaning the shoot-down will be similar to 
missile-defence tests regularly performed in the Pacific.

"What we're trying to do is match up that period in which the satellite 
looks most like a re-entering missile," he said.

This latest shoot-down will give the navy its first real-life, 
uncontrolled test of its Aegis-based system.

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