Pentagon Says It’s Very Confident Missile Hit Satellite

Pentagon Says It’s Very Confident
Missile Hit Satellite
Fuel Tank Destroyed
Thursday, February 21, 2008

About Photo: The USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 at a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 20, 2008.

Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy
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Navy Missile Hits Decaying Satellite Over Pacific Ocean
News Release February 20, 2008

A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere, defense officials announced in a press release. Video footage HERE

At approximately 10:26 p.m. EST today, a U.S. Navy AEGIS warship, the USS Lake Erie (CG-70), fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) hitting the satellite approximately 153 miles (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. USS Decatur (DDG-73) and USS Russell (DDG-59) were also part of the task force.

The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth's atmosphere. Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.

Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.

From A DoD/American Forces Press Service, News Article

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Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite on First Attempt

About Video: The Pentagon says a missile launched from a Navy ship struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing over the Pacific Ocean
News Video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress