US declares 1400-mile Pacific sat-shoot exclusion zone

The Register ^ | 19 FEB 08 | Lewis Page

[Rb ver. 2.0]

I’m kind of hoping for an “oops we missed” as a Chicom military satellite explodes. We’ve got a whole month and a half to get it “right”.

[sam_paine]

USA-193
Organization US National Reconnaissance Office
Mission type Spy satellite
Launch date 14 December 2006, 21:00:00 GMT
Carrier Rocket Delta II 7920
Mission duration Failed immediately after launch
Mass ~5,000 pounds

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The 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test was conducted by China on January 11, 2007. A Chinese weather satellite the FY-1C polar orbit satellite of the Fengyun series, at an altitude of 865 kilometres (537 mi), with a mass of 750 kg

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Hmm. This ‘target’ was launched just about a month before the Chinese conducted their demonstration. Hmmmmmm.

[Kegger]

Could they shoot it down over Berkeley and let the remnants fall where they may?



Good answer.
I like the way you think.
I'm going to be watching you.

[r9etb]

I wonder if the system actually works better when multiple shots occur.

Dunno -- the idea would be that the second shot would take it out if the first one missed, and would be wasted if the first one hit. I don't know if the first one would interfere with the targeting/intercept solution for the second one.

I wonder if this spy-sat isn't a dummy target that they launched just for this. When was it launched? Before/after the Chinese planned their demo?

There's all sorts of interesting ways to speculate about that particular piece of hardware.

[ANGGAPO]

Wish I had thought of that. Right on the mark.

[doorgunner69]

it’s even tougher to stick it to the atmosphere in order to cordon off the airspace...

Nah, no need to make it stick, just hang it from sky hooks...

[r9etb]

If we miss, it’ll come back around in 90 minutes or so a little farther to the east or west depending on its direction of orbit. So we can have multiple shots.........

The duration of the exclusion zone (2:30) does support that idea. The only question is whether that would cover the "falling debris" period. But you're right.

[ANGGAPO]

Oh, for the smell of Hydrazine on the morning breeze.

[AppyPappy]

Anti-Sat missiles are generally launched from fighters.

[Vinnie]

Don’t forget the ISS-STS122 flyover tonight starting about 6:00 EST.
They are supposed to be close together and bright, -8 mag.

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

The US military has issued a warning notice barring flights above a large area of the northern Pacific for two and a half hours early on Thursday morning. The stricken spy satellite marked for destruction by US warships will pass over the taped-off area just at this time, indicating that the first shot will take place then.

Sir, I think we are going to need more tape. A lot more tape!

[AFreeBird]

Could they shoot it down over Berkeley and let the remnants fall where they may?

Think man; they're trying to keep it OUT of our enemies hands!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Taped off area is, very roughtly, an ellipse centered about 700 miles west of Honolulu, about 1300 miles in north/south extent and 700 miles in east/west extent.

Very unlikely to be visible to anyone outside of the 50th state. Freepmail me your real email, l’ll send you a picture.

[Drago]

This rogue satellite shootdown attempt is right during the eclipse! 02:30-05:00 UTC is 6:30pm-9pm California time. 2 things to watch at the same time!
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/19/018224
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyjLAQ7vDuGT2-CSFBsAVPCYEXpAD8UTHS9O0

[AFreeBird]

I wonder if they are banking on a direct hit or a frontal explosion?.

Seems to me that a frontal explosion would not have the desired effect. No atmo up there to transmit the blast energy. And shrapnel from such a missile would also not have the desired effect.

That, and I believe they're trying to hit the hydrazine tank.

[Drago]

To help answer his question, it is a kinetic warhead...needs a hit...no explosives.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/sm3.htm
http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/faq.html

[EggsAckley]

I didn’t know they were at the same time. Now if our crappy fog would just vanish, it should be really fun.

Thanks for telling me!

[Drago]

Yeah...most likely cloudy. They say showers tonight and Thursday night...might catch a break Wednesday tho.:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=hnx&textField1=36.7800&textField2=-119.7200&smap=1

[kidd]

A not-so-subtle demonstration to the North Koreans and China

[EggsAckley]

I really hope it clears. I’ll have all the grandkids and son here. They’ll love it. I’m up high in the coastal range so we have good viewing here....no ambient city lights. Very dark.

Thanks again!