US missile hits 'toxic satellite'
prathap vp
Thursday, 21 February 2008 12:23 UTC
The US has successfully struck a disabled spy satellite with a missile fired from a warship in waters west of Hawaii, military officials say.
Operatives had only a 10-second window to hit the satellite – USA 193 - which went out of control shortly after it was launched in December 2006.
Officials were worried its hydrazine fuel could do harm, but it is not yet known if the fuel tank was destroyed.
Officials expect that over 50% of the debris will fall to Earth within the first 15 hours after the strike – or within its first two revolutions of Earth.
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Replies
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Thanks Prathap. To clear up attribution, Prathap is quoting from the BBC news site.
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Does anybody know where the debris area is located and whether this extraordinary way to terminate a satellite will cause a falling star rain à la Armageddon?
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Watch the video embedded in the BBC article posted by Matt.
Atlantic and Pacific is reported to be the debris area.
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