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Subject: US: Broken Satellite Will Be Shot Down
DarthAmerica    2/14/2008 12:29:08 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials say the Pentagon is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March. The Associated Press has learned that the option preferred by the Bush administration will be to fire a missile from a U.S. Navy cruiser, and shoot down the satellite before it enters Earth's atmosphere. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the options will not be publicly discussed until a Pentagon briefing later Thursday. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ********************************************************************* Wow. And from a USN ship no less. The implications of this are enourmous. Also, what a slick way a great to sneak in test of ASAT capability. -DA
 
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kevintk       2/15/2008 9:46:52 PM



How would the ship get to the right spot on time?

If a Standard is used, wouldn't the ship have to be within a relatively small area, the reasonably precise  location of which would be hard to determine much in advance ??


Just as an answer to you PRC bandits reading this, imagine what you have to do to pull that feat off.

You'd have to be able to asteroid rendezvous at a separation distance of more than ten light seconds  and fire an impactor at  delta sub1 Mach 10 into a target circle 80 meters in area into that asteroid as you flyby for example.

Or predict the dropbasket of a satellite weeks in advance in a Martian decaying orbit.

Or..........

You get the idea.

Pleasant delusions, bandits.

Herald

Well that's really something!

Per the press this is a shoot-down of an object in orbit, not during re-entry. My misconception.





 
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dwightlooi       2/15/2008 10:46:25 PM
The significance of this (if they succeed) are:-

(1) It proves that the LEAP kill vehicle in the SM-3 which is a mere 20kg and the size of a small waste paper basket is capable detecting via its imaging IR seeker, processing the data and maneuvering quickly enough and precisely enough to hit a small object moving at Mach 25 (with the actual closing speed possibly in excess of Mach 30). What this means is that the SM-3 is capable of not just hitting IRBMs and MRBMs, but also ICBMs which are about Mach 18 targets if they stray into its 600km range. It also means that you can take the same tiny kill vehicle and basic software, put it on a bigger booster and have it take out just about anything in orbit you can physically reach. It retires any doubts as to the precision and response time of the guidance and divert control system.

(2) The SM-3 officially has an engagement altitude of 200km and a 600km range. Perhaps the altitude part is a little conservative. If it is hitting a satellite it is probably hitting something between 200 and 500km high even if it is on the lowest non aero-braking orbit. The ISS is ~500km.

 
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Nichevo    Mea culpa   2/15/2008 11:08:46 PM
I take back everything I said about spanking the Russians for the overflights.  This is MUUUUUUUUUUUCH better.  Lulz!  Esp. if we did it where they could see the pieces showering down into the ocean just east of Siberia or China.  In the immortal words of Gordie Lachance, Suck my fat one you dime store hood!

Can we hit it again and again to break up the fragments?  Bwahahahah!

Oh no, Pootie, our little ol' interceptors are no threat to you...or your lovely prop planes!

Hahaha, could we make the debris fall out of orbit and hit flying Russian bombers?

OK, I'll stop now ;>

 
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Nichevo    Mea culpa   2/15/2008 11:09:29 PM


Propaganda has its place in war. Yes; Darth, we are at "cold" war, now.
See, you DO understand what I was talking about.

 
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displacedjim       2/20/2008 8:51:12 AM
And now from the "This Is So Ridiculous That We'd All Be Laughing Our A$$es Off If It Ween't So #$(*&)^@^ Disgustingly Pathetic" department:
 
China Expresses Concern About US Bid To Shoot Down Damaged Satellite
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Feb 19, 2008

China has expressed concern about Washington's decision to shoot down a damaged satellite, urging the U.S. Government to fulfill its international obligation.

Responding to a question on the U.S. plan to shoot down a damaged satellite, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Sunday that the Chinese Government is highly concerned about development of the situation and has urged the U.S. side to fulfill its international obligation and avoid causing damages to the security in the outer space and other countries.
 
"Relevant departments of China are closely watching the situation and working out preventive measures," Liu said.
 
According to news reports, the U.S. Defense Department is planning to shoot down a damaged spy satellite that is expected to hit the Earth in early March. The satellite, which contains toxic fuel, has been out of control shortly after its launch in 2006.
 
Source: Xinhua News Agency
 
 
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Wicked Chinchilla       2/20/2008 11:10:00 AM

And now from the "This Is So Ridiculous That We'd All Be Laughing Our A$$es Off If It Ween't So #$(*&)^@^ Disgustingly Pathetic" department:

 

China Expresses Concern About US Bid To Shoot Down Damaged Satellite

by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Feb 19, 2008

China has expressed concern about Washington's decision to shoot down a damaged satellite, urging the U.S. Government to fulfill its international obligation.

Responding to a question on the U.S. plan to shoot down a damaged satellite, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Sunday that the Chinese Government is highly concerned about development of the situation and has urged the U.S. side to fulfill its international obligation and avoid causing damages to the security in the outer space and other countries.

 

"Relevant departments of China are closely watching the situation and working out preventive measures," Liu said.

 

According to news reports, the U.S. Defense Department is planning to shoot down a damaged spy satellite that is expected to hit the Earth in early March. The satellite, which contains toxic fuel, has been out of control shortly after its launch in 2006.

 

Source: Xinhua News Agency


 HA.  If that is not the definition of hypocrite I do not know what is.  They are criticizing the advanced declaration of a sat shootdown already in decaying orbit when they themselves performed an unannounced test on a satellite in orbit knowingly spreading vasts amounts of debris.  F@&t that. 



 
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Yimmy       2/20/2008 5:07:33 PM
What do you reckon the chance of scoring a hit is?
 
 
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Herald12345    Fair to good.   2/20/2008 5:21:13 PM

What do you reckon the chance of scoring a hit is?

 

NED to exactly quantify, Yimmy. This is really a rather risky shot: as close to real world warshot as you'll see in peacetime.

Herald



 
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Yimmy       2/20/2008 5:23:26 PM
I have no grounding for this, but I reckon the attempt will fail.  It would had been better if it was kept secret, and only announced after the event (in the case of a success).  A public miss will be somewhat awkward.
 
 
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benellim4       2/20/2008 6:03:41 PM

I have no grounding for this, but I reckon the attempt will fail.  It would had been better if it was kept secret, and only announced after the event (in the case of a success).  A public miss will be somewhat awkward.

 


What's it worth to you?
 
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