US missile takes out spy satellite 130 miles up in air

Published on Thursday 21 February 2008 09:31

A US Navy warship fired a missile which hit an out-of-control spy satellite orbiting 130 miles above the Earth's surface today, the Pentagon confirmed.

Officials said it had been decided to shoot down the satellite – about the size of a small bus – because they were worried about the danger from the its hydrazine fuel if it fell back to Earth.

The satellite is equipped with small rocket "thrusters" loaded with the toxic fuel, which can cause coughing, irritated throat and lungs, convulsions, seizures, and long-term exposure can damage the liver, kidney and reproductive organs. It is not yet known if the fuel tank was destroyed.

But the controversial operation has been criticised by China and Russia.

Russia suspects the operation was a cover to test anti-satellite technology under the US missile defence programme.

The defence ministry in Moscow argued that various spacecraft with toxic fuel on board had crashed to Earth in the past, but this had never before merited "extraordinary measures".

Last year, China carried out a test using a ground-based ballistic missile to destroy a satellite in space, prompting international alarm and fears of a space arms race.

The US denies its operation was a response to the Chinese test.

The Pentagon said the USS Lake Erie, armed with an SM-3 missile designed to knock down incoming missiles – not orbiting satellites – launched the attack from the Pacific Ocean at around 3.26am GMT today.

It hit the satellite as the spacecraft travelled at more than 17,000mph.

The Pentagon spokesman said: "A network of land, air, sea and space-based sensors confirms that the US military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the Earth's atmosphere.

"The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the hydrazine, a hazardous fuel, before it entered into Earth's atmosphere. Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.

"Debris will begin to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days."