Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite

AP via Drudge Report ^ | February 20, 2008 10:53 PM US/Eastern | By ROBERT BURNS

[TexasBeth]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A missile launched from a Navy ship successfully struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing 130 miles over the Pacific on Wednesday, a defense official said. Full details were not immediately available.

It happened just after 10:30 p.m. EST.

Two officials said the missile was launched successfully. One official, who is close to the process, said it hit the target. He said details on the results were not immediately known.

The goal in this first-of-its-kind mission for the Navy was not just to hit the satellite but to obliterate a tank aboard the spacecraft carrying 1,000 pounds of a toxic fuel called hydrazine.

U.S. officials have said the fuel would pose a potential health hazard to humans if it landed in a populated area. Although the odds of that were small even if the Pentagon had chosen not to try to shoot down the satellite, it was determined that it was worth trying to eliminate even that small chance.

Officials said it might take a day or longer to know for sure if the toxic fuel was blown up......"

[Smile-n-Win]

Obviously, the Bush Administration completely failed in its diplomacy to reach some sort of an agreement with the satellite. The satellite, like all satellites, is not our enemy. If it wanted to strike us, it was because of our imperialist attitude toward satellites and our lack of tolerance of the satellittic religion.

ROFL, you're a master at this! Kudos!

[randog]

^5 to those sailors, engineers and technicians!!!!

WAY TO GO GUYS,,,YOU MADE US PROUD!!!

SandRat's son was working on that project. Give your boy a hearty back-pat for us, SR!

[AFPhys]

I suspect that given the relative infancy of this technology that they hoped for calmer seas. In a real situation, it probably wouldn’t matter much. You have to see this as an “experimental” or “test” launch, after all. One of the things you need on a “test” is sensors, such as cameras, etc., to observe a missile launch. The missile gyros, etc, are not going to be much affected by winds or heavy seas after the launch, but those tracking sensors would be.

The reporters may not have been told such factors, they probably couldn’t appreciate the importance if they were told, and it is highly unlikely they could figure such factors out by themselves.

[elfman2]

“Because the satellite was orbiting at a relatively low altitude at the time it was hit by the missile, debris will begin to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere immediately, the Pentagon statement said.”

Making them difficult to track. Sure, this was about all about a fuel thank, not spy equipment...

[jetson]

Way to go guys! Now Obama or Hillary can give the technology to China.

[Pistolshot]

Not the first time for the SM-3.

Japanese test.

Here's a description of the missle.

SM-3 Specs.

And then this from last November.

Dual hits on ballistic targets by the SM-3

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

I don't believe either the "calm seas" nor the "10 second launch window" I heard in press "reports" leading up to this. The VLS system can launch in significant seas. The ship's onboard computer - the Aegis weapons system - can compensate for ship motion and shoot at the moment the deck is level, or even pitched in a favorable direction.

I think both items may have been a little mis-information and/or simply laying the groundwork for an excuse on a pass on one shot/orbit while waiting for the next. Most people don't want to hear the gory technical details, and some of them we don't want released.

[elfman2]

Priceless!

[Vanders9]

I stand corrected.

[elfman2]

Well done...

[Dooderbutt]

DUmmie Reaction

[elfman2]

Hilarious!

[Rio]

Cool video of the intercept HERE.
Sure looks blown up to me.

[Eaker]

Now, paint a satellite icon on the bridge or tower of that ship!

I'll drink to that!

[Southack]

“So what did you do on your little cruise, honey?”

Oh, I shot down a satellite, saving innocent lives from toxic missile fuel while protecting national secrets...

[crusty old prospector]

I guess I should have added a “Sarcasm” tag. I, too, would rather see my tax dollars used to build munitions in the states than give out as election candy from the socialist party. Amazing technology for a bullet to hit another bullet!

[TheThirdRuffian]

Just a big chunk (or chunks) of depleted uranium, coated with steel.

[1Old Pro]

Pucker factor went up 10 notches with the Russians and Chicoms ... not good news for them.

Given that the setellit was in space traveling something like 17,000 miles per hour I'd say we just sent a mesage thru demonstration that our star wars capability is up and running, thanks to President reagan.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“DU reaction”

Wow, what an amazing group of America-haters.