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.
It’s in the SP nearing Hawaii, one more orbit and that should do it.
It can be downloaded here:
and the Orbital Elements Here
The Author has passed and the software will not be updated..
but it's prob the BEST out there.. You can track ANY satellite that NORAD will publish...
great for Shuttle and ISS pass predictions
In some ways it be would be better if it takes three. More opportunity for data acquisition. They might also experiment with slightly different launch and intercept parameters (until the IR seeker takes over -- might even be able to fine tune the programming in that).
While that makes logical sense, the chance to see Putin’s face on the first try would be priceless.
TIME HACK: T - 90 min
I was thinking that some video will be released. Probably more valuable to show our cards this time.
Air warning yellow, weapons tight.
Thanks. They nailed the time 10:27 EST
Just at PNW set to go over Canada the next 20 min.
That hot link is moving. Good post.
Your probably right but it most likely wont be the good stuff. Probably some fuzzy, jumpy, out of focus slop that just shows a quick streak followed by a big flash.
Africa now.
Wow..I didn’t realize that when I was posting the link! I am so technologically impaired....lol
lol..me too and I usually don’t get into space stuff that much. I just love our military and am praying for a successful mission. The Ruskies will be pea green with envy if we shoot it out of space!! (grin)
You keeping up with this?
>> They nailed the time 10:27 EST
Is this still a go?
T- MINUS 25 min
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