Posted on 02/20/2008 3:58:23 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008 – The Pentagon has opened the window of time in which it will shoot down a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.
Today’s return of the space shuttle Atlantis to Earth prompted the start of the optimal time period for shooting down the satellite, which extends until about the end of the month, the senior officer told Pentagon reporters.
Only “tens of seconds” will be available each day for a favorable launch of a ship-based SM-3 interceptor missile, the senior officer said. “The window is small, … but we’re looking for the best orientation of the satellite” before launching the missile, the officer explained.
The 5,000-pound satellite malfunctioned soon after it was launched in 2006, making it unresponsive to ground control. It is carrying a tank full of hydrazine, a toxic rocket fuel. The satellite, orbiting every 90 minutes or so, was expected to fall to Earth in February or March with its tank of hydrazine intact, possibly endangering human populations.
President Bush directed the Defense Department to engage the satellite just before it enters the atmosphere at about 150 miles above the Earth. The goal is for the missile to hit and rupture the tank of rocket fuel, causing the hydrazine to burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, along with debris from the stricken satellite.
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.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is to give the order to launch, based upon commanders’ recommendations, the senior officer said. Gates will be advised as to the optimal time to launch by the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, based at Offutt Air Force Base, in Omaha, Neb.
All space sensor and missile-tracking activity related to the missile launch is being coordinated by the Joint Space Operations Center, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Sensors, such as large radars and telescopes, are being coordinated by the Joint Integrated Missile Defense Team in Colorado Springs, Colo., under the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.
Three U.S. Navy ships -- the cruiser USS Lake Erie and the destroyers USS Decatur and USS Russell -- are posted in the Pacific Ocean waiting for an optimal time to launch, the senior officer said. The Erie is slated to shoot at the satellite, and it is fitted with two SM-3 missiles. The Decatur has one, and the Russell has none. The missiles were modified to carry additional sensor equipment for the mission, the senior officer said.
The launch will be conducted during daytime over the Pacific, the senior officer explained, so that all sensors involved can better track the results of the missile launch. Necessary criteria for launch include satisfactory alignment of all pre-launch sensor-supplied data, as well as favorable weather conditions, he said.
Currently, the wave height about the ships is unfavorable to launch, the officer said. However, this and other conditions are subject to change, he added.
President Reagan is a man I am proud to call my Commander-In-Chief, and a true Patriot. Thank You Mr. President.
Sure breaks up the monotony of Obama/McCain victory lap.
.. NOW IT"S MILLER TIME !!!!
Roger, THAT!
No .. But the Satellite one
Couldn't resist ....
No, but they probably had some tracking aircraft that do.
They actually sound a little impressed.
I think those guys over there are impressed by ultra-high technology.
You know, stuff like Twinkies.
I suspect that this technology can launch everything from mission specific spy satellites to GPS vehicles to orbital defense shields. HA!
When people see what our military is really capable of, they can’t help but be impressed.
Link to some news:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7aoM2ii3QVBCAV8m2HtJSuPxPNwD8UUFD8G0
Pentagon saying it might take a day or two to know if the toxic fuel was blown up.
They are the most naive people in the Country. If they have to figure out where stuff come from, they don’t know.
Well good night Ya’ll..
Sleep Tight ..
and SECURE..
Thanks to the young Brave men and Women of the US ARMED SERVICES
Happy and Proud to be a Former USN Officer
ROFL!
I'm sure they are tracking the debris cloud. If it is little pieces, as they hoped it would be, the pieces may drift a long way and take a long time to come down.
Night. Thanks for all of your great posts! It was fun.
Thanks for your service buddy, Lets have the Force get the next one! :^)
Kind of OT but ..how would this relate to the possibility of our being capable of hitting an earthbound meteor?
The math, the calculations...where to hit it for optimum destruction...where much of it could burn up before entering our atmosphere...
Realistically, I think that that was the least of their concerns.
Listen to what the libbies overseas are saying..it will make your blood boil!!
‘Space shuttle descends: Satellite turkey-shoot to commence’
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/20/spy_satellite_shootdown_intercept_shuttle_down_fun_begins/
(snip)
“Here at the Reg, we’re obviously hoping for repeated, spectacular misses (the US Navy apparently only has three modded SM-3s on hand) followed by eventual sale of the secret sky-spy payload on eBay and further sensational revelations.”
WHO IS THE TURKEY NOW?? Typical liberal punks!!
Been a few movies out with that idea.
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