US 193 to be 'shot down' ?

This just on various newswires folks ... the Pentagon is looking seriously at proposals to shoot down the errant US 193 spy satellite whose orbit is decaying rapidly.

More details at news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7245578.stm

You can get predictions of US 193 passes for your location from www.heavens-above.com

John

Cool,
its full of hydrazine rocket fuel, hopefully it will be spectacular.

We wouldnt see it would we? i mean they are gonna do it i'd guess close to home as to not spark an international crisis.

Sounds a bit like the Star Wars program.

Any word on the missile type to be used?

"The general added that the space shuttle would be back on Earth before the attempt was made."

Please tell me they are not waiting in case they shoot the wrong thing!

It seems an lot of effort for a tank of hydrazine. Other satellites have been just let deorbit. Wonder whats really going on.

Albert apparently there is a lot of secret stuff onboard that we are not meant to know about. I'm thinking they dont want anything that doesnt burn up to fall into enemy hands.

Makes you wonder just what the hell is on it.................apart from some radioactive material.

Albert apparently there is a lot of secret stuff onboard that we are not meant to know about. I'm thinking they dont want anything that doesnt burn up to fall into enemy hands.

Makes you wonder just what the hell is on it.................apart from some radioactive material.

Well its hardly the first time that one of their spy sats has deorbited, and you'd think most of it would be destroyed on reentry/impact. The US originally said that this posed no threat and that satellites frequently fall without any risk to people, now they need to blow it up.

Unlikely to be nuclear powered apparently.

Kind of funny how international politics works. The Chinese test fired an anti satellite missile and got diplomatic warnings from practically everyone for undermining security in outer space and starting a space arms race. Now the US gets to effectively do a test "for our safety" and its all ok.

In protecting our safety the US will be using an SM-3 missile as part of their Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. According to wikipedia its been tested to intercept an ICBM but never on a satellite - bet the can't wait to hit th button!

Ah nothing like a good conspiracy. Or not. Hello Echelon.