Pentagon Opens Window of Time to Shoot Down Satellite

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry J. Gilmore

[marron]

This isn’t an issue when going up against non-state foes, but if we should have to confront any major power, you can see what the first targets are going to be.

Punch out your enemy’s satelites, and you’ve punched out his lights.

I’m sure there are smart people thinking about this, on both sides.

[mtbopfuyn]

The strike is designed to leave no space debris.

It's called land debris when it crashes into your backyard.

[kinoxi]

I think they’ll nail it. First shot.

[SandRat]

Hope so,.. son is an civilian aerospace engineer on the project.

[GOPJ]

Map showing position:
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=29651&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET

[randog]

...son is an civilian aerospace engineer on the project.

I'm an engineer and was just thinking about how kewl it would be to work on a project like this. Big props to your son.

[neodad]

Let’s do this!!!!!!

[buffyt]

Jeepers it has been an exciting day. The shuttle landed. Eclipse in a few hours. And shooting down the satellite!

If they miss, and you see the missile or the satellite headed for you in a fiery ball, put your head FIRMLY between your knees, and kiss your ass good bye!

my bad

[buffyt]

My husband is an engineer. Dow Chemical Co. 35 years.

[Veggie Todd]

Kick the tires and light the fires!!

[buffyt]

OUCH! We just finished remodeling, took EIGHT months! I hope we don’t get zapped by it. It was neat living in So. Cal. sometimes you could see the fireworks when they shot down a missile during testing. I think from vandenberg AFB

[sam_paine]

Who’s going to start a live LUNAR ECLIPSE + ASAT popcorn thread?

[buffyt]

YOU CAN! I will go get the beer!

[buffyt]

Who has clear skies for the eclipse? it is raining here in Houston and on the coast. DRAT

[neodad]

Looking at the map, it looks like they’ll have a chance on the next orbit.

[RightWhale]

spacedaily.com

by Dauna Coulter
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 21, 2008
. . .
How long will it take for the moon to be encircled with satellite traffic like Earth? Not very long, with the current moon rush. By the end of 2011, nine satellites could be buzzing around up there.

---

[omega4412]

About 50 percent of debris produced by the missile strike is expected to burn up during the stricken satellite’s first two orbits after being hit, the senior military officer said, with the rest burning up shortly after. The strike is designed to leave no space debris.

So we might get an artificial meteor shower out of this?

[neodad]

Space Ping.

[sam_paine]

Hence the thread! Clear sky folks can post pix.