I think I figured out the crashing spy satellite issue - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dannym · #16 02-15-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Fri Feb 15, 10:06 AM ET

The United States pledged on Friday to compensate countries if debris lands on their territory from a dying U.S. spy satellite that the Pentagon plans to shoot down.
Ambassador Christina Rocca said that if efforts fail to strike the satellite with a missile while it is still in space, it was expected to make an "uncontrolled re-entry into the earth's atmosphere on or about March 6."

The satellite is carrying more than 1,000 pounds (454 kg) of hydrazine fuel, and could release much of it as a toxic gas, according to Deputy U.S. National Security Adviser James Jeffrey.

If it has that much fuel left why don't they point it towards Iran an fire away? Give Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a nice suprise!

OldPokey · #17 02-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannym

If it has that much fuel left why don't they point it towards Iran an fire away? Give Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a nice suprise!

The avionics are dead. It's sort of like having a fully gassed up car, but no one to drive it. Worse, the car is headed down the highway at full speed!

dannym · #18 02-15-2008, 03:03 PM

Since when do we concern ourselves with trivial facts??

Hatterasguy · #19 02-15-2008, 03:17 PM

Its a good chance to show the Chinese that we have better weapons then they do.

How much you wanna bet the rocket they used to shoot down there weather satellite was either Russian, or US technoligy stolen when Clinton was in office?

waybomb · #20 02-15-2008, 05:41 PM

Stolen? I thought he gave them the tech??

MTI · #21 02-15-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

or US technoligy stolen when Clinton was in office?

. . . and US technology was safe an secure before then and has been since?

cmac2012 · #22 02-15-2008, 06:05 PM

I'm guessing it's going to be used as an attempt to justify SDI.

The Chinese satellite destroying capability demonstrated just how vulnerable SDI would be, did it ever actually get up and running. If China wanted to rain IBM nukes on us, they'd merely have to destroy enough of our GPS satellites an hour before, and have their multiple dummy warhead option available for backup.

MTI · #23 02-15-2008, 06:46 PM

More grist for the "we're putting on a show for the intell folks of other nations" rumor mill.

There are 3 missile destroyers north of Hawaii that are tasked. However the published plan is that only one SM-3 will be fired, with the other two vessels providing backup if there's a problem with the launch on the lead vessel. They have 3-4 days where the bird will be 150 miles up next week.

I think we're going to be demonstrating what the US Navy can do with "one bullet."

Ken300D · #24 02-15-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

If China wanted to rain IBM nukes on us,

Correction, those would be Lenovo nukes now....

Ken300D

OMEGAMAN · #25 02-15-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

Stolen? I thought he gave them the tech??

purchaced

OldPokey · #26 02-15-2008, 11:53 PM

Actually, you can thank Loral Space Systems for that one. The Chinese used to have a heavy lifter rocket they called Long March. It was a great ride - cheap and well sized to move lots of hardware to transfer orbit - except that they kept malfunctioning (i.e. blowing up).

The Loral Engineers didn't want THEIR satellite to end up as unrecoverable scrap, so they sat down with the Chinese engineers and carefully told them where their design was hosed. Once Long March got to be reliable, the Chinese pulled out of the launch business, saying it was too competitive. And now those Loral-trained Chinese engineers are off building new and very special rockets.

Hatterasguy · #27 02-16-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

Stolen? I thought he gave them the tech??

He let a Chinese spy ring operate and wouldn't take the steps to shut them down. Happend in the mid to late 90's, everyone has forgotten about it now.