Disabled Spy Satellite Threatens Earth



By EILEEN SULLIVAN
The Associated Press
Sunday, January 27, 2008; 1:30 AM

WASHINGTON -- A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit the Earth in late February or early March, government officials said Saturday.

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The successful Chinese hit-to-kill missile strike on one of its own weather satellites will force the United States to review its whole space strategy.




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So with the known technology why don't we ask China to blow it up? Problem solved. Where's my Nobel?

Since most of the satellite was probably manufactured in China, I really don't feel like trusting the precision of their weaponry.

So you saying China shot down one of our satellites?
Hmmm.
Was this about the time they also did not let US warships into port for leave?

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No, China can blow the doomed satellite to safe size chunks that will burn in the atmosphere.

AP: U.S. to shoot down errant satellite

Story Highlights
Navy ship would fire missile at satellite, AP reports
Bush administration want satellite destroyed before it hits atmosphere
Pentagon expected to discuss options in Thursday briefing
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Thursday that the option preferred by the Bush administration will be to fire a missile from a U.S. Navy cruiser, and shoot down the satellite before it enters Earth's atmosphere.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the options will not be publicly discussed until a later Pentagon briefing.

The disabled satellite is expected to hit the Earth the first week of March. Officials said the Navy would likely shoot it down before then, using a special missile modified for the task. Other details about the missile and the targeting were not immediately available.

But the decision involves several U.S. agencies, including the National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Defense and the State Department. Shooting down a satellite is particularly sensitive because of the controversy surrounding China's anti-satellite test last year, when Beijing shot down one of its defunct weather satellites, drawing immediate criticism from the U.S. and other countries.

A key concern at that time was the debris created by Chinese satellite's destruction -- and that will also be a focus now, as the U.S. determines exactly when and under what circumstances to shoot down its errant satellite.

The military will have to choose a time and a location that will avoid to the greatest degree any damage to other satellites in the sky.

Also, there is the possibility that large pieces could remain, and either stay in orbit where they can collide with other satellites or possibly fall to Earth.

It is not known where the satellite will hit. But officials familiar with the situation say about half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft is expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and will scatter debris -- some of it potentially hazardous -- over several hundred miles.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The satellite is outfitted with thrusters -- small engines used to position it in space. They contain the toxic rocket fuel hydrazine, which can cause harm to anyone who contacts it.

A U.S. official confirmed earlier that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193, according to an AP report.

It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite's central computer failed shortly after launch.

I think Bruce Willis did a movie about this already. china still has to deal with the toy issue first.

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Either that or we can send the satellite Chinese-made toys that are covered in lead-based paints. Satellites, being as curious as they are, are bound to put the toys in their mouths.

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Approx 1/4 of the Earth's surface is land. Less than 20% of the land surface is urbanized. Thus, there's about a 1/20 chance of the the spacecraft hitting urbanized areas.

I worked on the recovery of the space shuttle Columbia that descend on East Texas and W Louisiana. Most of the artifacts we found were small and composed of a very lightweight alloy. Many large pieces were found in urbanized areas on top of buildings, even. Nobody was hurt and no structures were damaged.

The spy satellite is smaller and was not designed to re-enter the atmosphere so it doesn't have any structure reinforcement or heat shielding that the shuttles have. You could probably catch most of the pieces with a butterfly net without ripping the net.

B

Anybody remember Skylab?

I think the US wants to use this opportunity to demonstrate it's satellite kill capability before it begins any engagement in the "space arms race" negotiations scheduled in the U.N. and by the British.

It was a brand-spanking new, extremely expensive, state of the art satellite. There are plenty old that are obsolete. It makes no sense to do as you say.

However, if it's on it's way down anyway, may as well get some value out of the loss.

B

Thanks for that, Bot. I'm picturing Harvey Corman and Mel Brooks running around on the praire with butterfly nets catching pieces of the satellite as spys in charge of recovering it . . . .

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Precisely. It's pretty clear that the US has developed the technology to kill re-entry vehicles, since they test them regularly here in Hawaii to demonstrate to certain nations in the Western Pacific that we know how to do it. Depending on where and how they take this errant bird out, it will just be another demonstration, but in a slightly more 'real world' situation.

yea.. lets make the expensive thing splode

My bad, I misunderstood your post.

Sorry.

B