[NormsRevenge]

A graphic of operation to destroy US spy satellite. A US missile shot down a rogue US spy satellite in space carrying dangerous toxic fuel, defense officials said, as China raised suspicions about the operation. (AFP/Graphic)

[NormsRevenge]

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 February 20, 2008 in this handout photo released by the U.S. Defense Department. A missile from a U.S. Navy warship hit a defunct U.S. spy satellite 133 nautical miles (247 km) above the Earth in an attempt to blow apart its tank of toxic fuel, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy/Handout

[NormsRevenge]

Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. James Cartwright points to a video during news conference at the Pentagon, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, hours after a Navy missile scored a direct hit on the failing spacecraft. (AP Photo/Heesoon Yim)

[NormsRevenge]

Video of Spy Satellite Getting Shot Down
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973884/posts
Gizmodo ^ | 21 February, 2008 | Gizmodo
Posted on 02/21/2008 5:27:51 AM PST by CarrotAndStick

Watch as General Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and apparently Jack Bauer’s older brother) shows how the Aegis missile launches and successfully destroys the rogue spy satellite.

[Izzy Dunne]

“The bad news is that the missile itself, after smashing the satellite, appears likely to fall to Earth itself, and our best guess is in the vicinity of Tehran, Iran about three days from now.”

[rhombus]

"China requests the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations in real earnest and provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way so that relevant countries can take precautions."

Yeah, sure. We'll call you. ;-)

[mainerforglobalwarming]

God bless President Reagan for his vision. Star Wars was laughed at, mocked. But it was brillant. And there will be a time in the near future where we will be able to shoot down, if necessary, China’s incoming nukes to the west coast. Now let’s hope they don’t smuggle any into the country.

[reagan_fanatic]

The elaborate intercept may trigger worries from some international leaders, who could see it as a thinly disguised attempt to test an anti-satellite weapon — one that could take out other nations' orbiting communications and spy spacecraft

That's exactly what is was. God bless America.

[colorado tanker]

Wow, that’s awesome. I’m sure proud of America today, and it’s not because some political naif from Illinois is running for President.

[CodeToad]

Your cost to help build a super-secret spy satellite: 10 years of your life.
Taxpayer costs to build said satellite: $1.5billion.
Costs to launch satellite: $400 million.
The cost of another aerospace program obliterating yours: Priceless.

[Publius6961]

"China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at news conference in Beijing. "China requests the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations in real earnest and provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way so that relevant countries can take precautions."

This is only ethical and fair, since China routinely does this with their space shots and failures, right?

Right?

...hello?

[Zeppo]

Just curious for any of you chemistry buffs or rocket scientists out there... Why would there be a hydrazine “fire” as a result of the impact? If the hydrazine was intended to be used to power thrusters (to permit limited orbital manouvers during the expected lifetime of the craft), rather than as one component of a binary rocket fuel (which presumably would require mixing with some kind of liquid oxidizer, however there have not been reports of any tank full of oxidizer onboard the satellite), wouldn’t it need some kind of catalyst to create the fireworks, or is it just the case that the massive release of kinetic energy as a result of the collision (along with the near simultaneous vaporization as a result of its violent release into near-vacuum conditions of LEO) would be more than enough to make the hydrazine decompose into its constituent components thereby leading to release of large amounts of energy as a result?

[Ignatz]

Debris from the satellite has started re-entry and will continue through Thursday and into Friday, Cartwright said.

I'm guessing some pieces will be falling for months, a few for maybe even years. But in the next few days, shouldn't we be seeing an increase in "shooting starts" as the pieces re-enter the atmosphere?

[SuziQ]

The elaborate intercept may trigger worries from some international leaders, who could see it as a thinly disguised attempt to test an anti-satellite weapon — one that could take out other nations' orbiting communications and spy spacecraft.

Good, I hope they STAY worried! It was successful, not only for the reduction of the threat of large bits falling on the earth, but also for the deterrent factor.

[SuziQ]

Debris from the satellite has started re-entry and will continue through Thursday and into Friday, Cartwright said.

We missed seeing the satellite the two times it came over our area because of clouds. Hope we'll get to see some of the debris falling!