U.S. To Shoot Down Spy Satellite

Citing Risk To Human Lives, Bush Orders Navy To Fire Missile At Broken Earthbound Satellite

(CBS/AP)  President Bush has ordered the Pentagon to use a Navy missile to attempt to destroy a broken U.S. spy satellite - and thereby minimize the risk to humans from its toxic fuel - by intercepting it just before it re-enters the atmosphere, officials said Thursday.

The effort - the first of its kind - will be undertaken because of the potential that people in the area where the satellite would otherwise crash could be harmed, the officials said.

Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey, briefing reporters at the Pentagon, did not say when the attempted intercept would be conducted, but the satellite is expected to hit Earth during the first week of March.

"This is all about trying to reduce the danger to human beings," Jeffrey said.

Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same briefing that the "window of opportunity" for such a shootdown, presumably to be launched from a Navy ship, will open in the next three or four days and last for seven or eight days. He did not say whether the Pentagon has decided on an exact launch date.

Cartwright said this will be an unprecedented effort; he would not say exactly what are the odds of success.

"This is the first time we've used a tactical missile to engage a spacecraft," Cartwright said.

After extensive study and analysis, U.S. officials came to the conclusion that, "we're better off taking the attempt than not," Cartwright said.

He said a Navy missile known as Standard Missile 3 would be fired in an attempt to intercept the satellite just prior to it re-entering Earth's atmosphere. It would be "next to impossible" to hit the satellite after that because of atmospheric disturbances, Cartwright said.

A second goal, he said, is to directly hit the fuel tank in order to minimize the amount of fuel that returns to Earth.

CBS News correspondent David Martin reports that a fuel tank carrying the same fuel as that onboard the satellite survived reentry during the Columbia space shuttle disaster, but in that case, the fuel had already been burned up during the mission. This time the tank is loaded with 1,000 pounds of the toxic rocket fuel hydrazine - used to power the satellite's thrusters - which could contaminate an area the size of two football fields.

Describing the effects of hydrazine, Cartwright told CBS News, "it's similar to chlorine or to ammonia in that when you inhale it, it affects your tissues and your lungs. You know, it has the burning sensation. If you stay very close to it and inhale a lot of it, it could in fact be deadly."

Software associated with the Standard Missile 3 has been modified to enhance the chances of the missile's sensors recognizing that the satellite is its target; he noted that the missile's designed mission is to shoot down ballistic missiles, not satellites. Other officials said the missile's maximum range, while a classified figure, is not great enough to hit a satellite operating in normal orbits.

"It's a one-time deal," Cartwright said when asked whether the modified Standard Missile 3 should be considered a new U.S. anti-satellite weapon technology.

Cartwright also said that if an initial shootdown attempt fails, a decision will be made whether to take a second shot.

Jeffrey said members of Congress were briefed on the plan earlier Thursday and that diplomatic notifications to other countries would be made before the end of the day.

Shooting down a satellite is particularly sensitive because of the controversy surrounding China's anti-satellite test last year, when Beijing shot down one of its defunct weather satellites, drawing immediate criticism from the U.S. and other countries.

A key concern at that time was the debris created by Chinese satellite's destruction - and that will also be a focus now, as the U.S. determines exactly when and under what circumstances to shoot down its errant satellite.

The military will have to choose a time and a location that will avoid to the greatest degree any damage to other satellites in the sky. Also, there is the possibility that large pieces could remain, and either stay in orbit where they can collide with other satellites or possibly fall to Earth.

It is not known where the satellite will hit. But officials familiar with the situation say about half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft is expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and will scatter debris - some of it potentially hazardous - over several hundred miles. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Known by its military designation US 193, the satellite was launched in December 2006. It lost power and its central computer failed almost immediately afterward, leaving it uncontrollable. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor.

[fastfredy1]

That would be cool if they could show it on TV. Like the space shots of the 60''s and 70''s. But I guess people will be on here thinking all kinds of conspiricy stuff as usuall. Maybe a piece will hit them in the head. Go Navy!!!!

[fastfredy1]

China shot theirs down in a show of power, this will be brining it down over and ocean instead of your back yard.

[fastfredy1]

By the way happy Valentines day to all you beautiful ladies.

[fastfredy1]

Scotty lock on phasers. Mr. Zulu bring us about and stand by to fire on the disabled earth satellite.

[fastfredy1]

We own it we can take it out big deal. I knew this would be a big conspircy thing with all you whinners.

[fastfredy1]

Whaaaaaaaa we amy offend some one. I hope it hits Osama in his a$$

[newsjunky5]

Can the Chinese do this for us at a lower cost?

[inventagod]

Someone

Notify

FEMA

[anonymous010]

You know, I wouldn''t have the slightest problem shooting down our own satellite if we hadn''t just finished scolding China for doing the EXACT same thing. How many more days to we have to put up with the Bush administration? I''m sick of them making us all hypocrites.

[rdwain]

I just hope the missile hits it''s target and not a US ally! unlike the ''repetitive accidents'' in both gulf wars.

[jegibbons]

=="Prepare for it''''s landing how???"==
Dig the BIG catcher''s out of the toy chest!
KEEP LOOKING UP!

[demslie]

China and Russia have done this for years. IRAN is building rockets to hit satellites and carry nuclear warheads. But the only people Democrats are mad at right here in America. No wonder some have called Democrats the best friend Ilamic Terrorists ever had. Democrats hate America the same as Al Qaeda.

[gunshack1]

Let us hope they don''t hit the international space station by mistake.

[downtowner97]

Please hire Mike Myers to dress up as Dr Evil to press the button.

[pensacola88]

The loss of high tech in the spy satellite is considered more dangerous than the risk of space garbage colliding with the space shuttle on future missions. If the spy satellite comes down intact, the technology will be accessible. It is considered better to divide the satellite into smaller parts that would burn up eventually, rather than fall own intact.

[shanev137]

I thought Bush doesn''t do anything.

[easeup-2009]

"Pure genius. You guys are sooooo smart.

Did Halliburton have the no-bid contract to build this?

I''''m gonna be up all night long from now on worrying that you morons will grow a brain and actually figure something scientific out."

Wow you probably think we had no satellites until 2001, don''t you? The depth of your myopic partisan ignorance knows no bounds.

[bobgee_1999]

demslie: Your posts are so idiotic from start to finish there is no reason to bother responding to them. All I would say is this, for self-improvement purposes, you really need to close your mouth for a while---stop having opinions at all, if possible, and open your eyes. This country is a short step from ruin, and you''re blaming the party that hasn''t had any significant power in close to eight years. If your fly was open, you''d want someone to tell you, wouldn''t you? Well, this is the same sort of thing. Your ignorance is showing.

[easeup-2009]

"To launch a huge secret spy satellite and have it fall back to Earth a year later has to eclipse everything else on the scientific stupid scale."

Have someone read the article to you--there were power/computer problems after the launch, they didn''t PLAN to have it come down after a year.

You are one stupid fvck.

[crater7]

WE ARE ALL DOOMED!

BUSH SAID THAT SEVERAL AGENCIES WILL BE INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE DEPT OF HOMELAND (IN) SECURITY, AND THE STATE DEPT.

CONSIDERING THE TRACT RECORD OF THESE TWO AGENCIES ON PROTECTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, ONE HAS TO ASSUME THAT WE ARE "DOOMED."

LOCK AND LOAD, ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOCK AND AWE.

[fstop100]

I hope they don''t use one of NASA''s Roman Candles to try and hit it.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II has decided to have the Navy shoot down a busted spy satellite or at least make the attempt.

The official reason is that the Great Emperor Bush II does not want the satellite to fall into a country that he does not like, such as Iran, or Venezeula, or even China. Unofficially, however, the Great Emperor fears that the satellite would probably land on the White House, maybe in his own lap!

Therefore, instead of the Great Emperor Bush running for the hills if he hears VP Darth Vader Cheney yell "INCOMING!", the Emperor has decided to blast the satellite to bits, provided of course, that the Navy can hit the thing!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[missearth-2009]

I honestly think that the satellite was deactivated by someone. And if it was sent into orbit in December 2006, then how could it possibly be coming toward earth for almost 1 or 2 years and scientists not know about it? It could of possibly be deactivated by another country due to terroism. And after it gets destroyed, if the hydrozine is in the satellite, and some dubris from the part that has hydrozine in it hits earth, then what will we do to protect ourselves? You scientists need to start thinking about what will happen after you destroy it. And what you will do if some remaining parts of the satelllite that have hydrozine in it, what will happen and what will we/you do about it? The most important question that you should be wondering is If you launched it in 2006, how could you possibly know that it has stopped working almost immediatly after you lanched it? And how do you not know for sure that it has been deactivated somehow? It probably has been deactived by someone because that could not of happened right away. Someone may have possibly accidently deactived it. But those are some more questions that scientists need to answer. And could you possibly reactiveate it somehow? These are the kind of questions that need to be answered right away so the public does not have to worry.Thank You. I hope you answer these questions and make the answers public.

[jetlizhan]

houston, you have a problem.

[klingon69]

I honestly think that the satellite was deactivated by someone.
Posted by MissEarth at 03:32 PM : Feb 14, 2008
They''ve figured it out, deactivate cloaking device, charge disrupters and fire.

[shagfinger]

I wonder if it will get refurbished and end up on Woot!

[killtheliars]

I guess this means that we are in voilation of the ABM treaty since no country is supposed to have high-altitude interception missles on navy ships.

[hillaryin08]

guess this means that we are in voilation of the ABM treaty since no country is supposed to have high-altitude interception missles on navy ships.


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Posted by killtheliars at 03:39 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Another liberal idiot. Your right lib, just let it crash into sombodys house.

[hillaryin08]

The Great Emperor Bush II has decided to have the Navy shoot down a busted spy satellite or at least make the attempt.

The official reason is that the Great Emperor Bush II does not want the satellite to fall into a country that he does not like, such as Iran, or Venezeula, or even China. Unofficially, however, the Great Emperor fears that the satellite would probably land on the White House, maybe in his own lap!

Therefore, instead of the Great Emperor Bush running for the hills if he hears VP Darth Vader Cheney yell "INCOMING!", the Emperor has decided to blast the satellite to bits, provided of course, that the Navy can hit the thing!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!


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Posted by walt1944 at 03:31 PM : Feb 14, 2008

we shoud let you ride the rocket up their and we''ll get rid of two peices of worthless garbage.

[hillaryin08]

The Great Emperor Bush II has decided to have the Navy shoot down a busted spy satellite or at least make the attempt.

The official reason is that the Great Emperor Bush II does not want the satellite to fall into a country that he does not like, such as Iran, or Venezeula, or even China. Unofficially, however, the Great Emperor fears that the satellite would probably land on the White House, maybe in his own lap!

Therefore, instead of the Great Emperor Bush running for the hills if he hears VP Darth Vader Cheney yell "INCOMING!", the Emperor has decided to blast the satellite to bits, provided of course, that the Navy can hit the thing!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!


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Posted by walt1944 at 03:31 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Promise us that your not going to reproduce.

[bm6005]

Democrats hate America the same as Al Qaeda.
Posted by demslie

Grow up you MORON!!

[hillaryin08]

Democrats hate America the same as Al Qaeda.
Posted by demslie

Grow up you MORON!!


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Posted by bm6005 at 03:46 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Its the truth. Or do they all hate themselves and they think of big liberal government as the therapist? mmmmm could be on to something their.

[rushlimpdrug]

Koool

I looked through my telescope one night and saw some little green people doing something to a satellite.

I did''t want to say anything but this could explain all with this satellite.

Their badge numbers were:
#1045197
#1423551

Couln''t read the names but I can describe them, both had long purple hair, one of them had a receeding hair line.

[fibonacci_]

I loooove when the republicans pretend that everyone else doesnt care about america. Their simple mindedness shows through perfectly there. It is almost cute how dumb republicans are.

[rushlimpdrug]

I loooove when the republicans pretend that everyone else doesnt care about america. Their simple mindedness shows through perfectly there. It is almost cute how dumb republicans are.
Posted by fibonacci_ at 03:53 PM

Actually repubs/conservs love America in the "skrew-em" sense and are in LOVE with china.

Go figure.

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, Did you see how proud your republicans were doing their photo op after walking out of Congress today ??? --- That is why we have a do nothing Congress

[killtheliars]

hillaryin08,

hopefully it will be yours.
I amde that point because we in the U.S. cry like freaking girls anytime we don''t get our way or anyone else breaks a treaty (Saddam, Iran) but it is ok when we do it.

[j-whitman]

Just don''t let Liar Bush or Chuckles Cheney aim the missile, it would hit this country

[robaldrich]

Democrats hate America the same as Al Qaeda.
Posted by demslie

----------

Just because a person consistently acts in a manner that will destroy America, doesn''t necessarily mean they "hate" America. Maybe they are just ignorant of the long term effects of their conduct.

Then again, its 2008. Many, many people, not just Democrats, think hearsay and feelings (as opposed to facts and reason) are a sufficient basis to make decisions. And who are you or I to make them feel bad by criticizing their decision making ability.

Please, be "tolerant." It''s not their fault. It''s just the pre-planned result of five generations of government indoctrination camps, whoops, public schools).

[talkingham]

The thing probably has images of Bush shaking hands and hugging Isama for saving his presidency so it must be shot down.

Tells u something about the security apparatus in this country when they don''t know why their multi-billion-$ satellite just "stopped working". They forgot to charge the batteries I guess or used that other brand of batteries.

You''d think there would be multiple redundant systems for basic communication with the bird- so who messed up and threw billions of my dollars down a hole in space.

This stinks of another Bush admin cover-up. Like I said it must has some pretty incrimminating evidence against Bush to have to be shot down.

Why not have the shuttle tug it out to a safe orbit and have a mission to find out what went wrong-- do they want the same problem to happen again. Probably.

This nation is being run by idiots. It doesn''t matter who you vote for, udiots, liars and crooks are in charge and DER DECIDER has decided we need to shoot this baby down to give our boys some tawget practice. Beats shootin at cans on the ranch don''t it Bushies?

[catlynlawson]

the most important thing right now is to figure out a way to stop this so lives arent lost??

[libsrweak]

the most important thing right now is to figure out a way to stop this so lives arent lost??


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Posted by catlynlawson at 04:09 PM : Feb 14, 2008
+ report abuse


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C O N S E R V E............and i dont even have to kiss babies or steal candies...

[libsrweak]

Just don''''t let Liar Bush or Chuckles Cheney aim the missile, it would hit this country


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Posted by j-whitman at 04:04 PM : Feb 14, 2008
+ report abuse


*********

it might hit your bulbous arse first..i hear yours emitt a large amount of bullsh*t and hot gas

[piercetheval]

It''s pretty obvious. when was the last time this administration or the military was worried that someone might get hurt? They don''t want it falling into anyones hands.

[jerkeedoodle]

Blast,and I was hoping the S.O.B. would "win the lottery" and take out Cheney and his puppet!

[libsrweak]

That is why we have a do nothing Congress


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Posted by j-whitman at 03:59 PM : Feb 14, 2008
+ report abuse

************

where are the democrats in congress with thier process of impeachment and troop withdrawal??????????

its a ''do nothing'' because they are not doing nothing when it comes to what you want..and what you want is someone to confirm your bullsH8t

[talkingham]

Great job Bushie, why not save the satellite rather than shoot down. They aren''t scared about any fuel- you are an idiot if you believe that.

Probably has those photos of Bush hugging Osama I mentioned or the Chinese or Ruskies figured out how to take control of it and locked us out. May some CIA mogul was looking at a porn site and picked up a nasty little virus and shut it down - we''ll never know cause Bush don''t want us to know.

I guarantee you they would not be shooting this thing down if it were just broken, they would want to know why it was broken.

Liars unite! Ooops they already have, it''s called Der Decider and Friends.

[Syndicate]

Anybody know were I can get a Bush 08 sticker?

[mike71067]

"Great job Bushie, why not save the satellite rather than shoot down."
-Posted by talkingham at 04:21 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Are all liberal Democrats this ignorant of the space program? I''m embarassed for all of you.

[barbaraf4]

I suspect they realized it was headed straight for Crawford, TX.