OH NO!! U.S. officials say the Pentagon is planning to shoot down Spy satellite

[rphope]

After saying that this was no threat, today the Pentagon is changing their tune, rather drastically!!! Info is below.

[rphope]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23166344/

Just hitting the wires now...

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials say the Pentagon is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March.

This is the U.S. military will use a missile to destroy a satellite in space, NBC News reports.

The spy satellite has lost all power and is expected to crash back on earth in early March, spreading debris and potentially hazardous fuel over several hundred miles.

The Pentagon will rely on part of its Missle Defense System to destroy the satellite while still in orbit over the Pacific. The Navy will fire two or three SM-3 missiles from a cruiser and destroyer off the northwest coast of Hawaii.

The SM-3's, which are more of a medium-range interceptor, had to be modified — more fuel and new software — to reach the disabled spy satellite in orbit. If the intercept is successful and the satellite blown to bits, it appears most of the debris will become orbitting "space junk" and not re-enter the earth's atmopshere.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story.

[rphope]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March, U.S. officials say.

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.

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The AP last month that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will hit the ground. Ground not Water?

A U.S. official confirmed that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193, according to an AP report.

It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite's central computer failed shortly after launch.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.

[rphope]

Now that we know the name of this Spy Sat, heres the info on it:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/e-305.htm

Orbit Data THIS IS LIVE (REFRESH TO UPDATE) ESTIMATE OF LOCATION:

http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=29651&lat=61.417&lng=23.867&loc=Hervanta&alt=128&tz=EET&loc=interstitialskip

[rphope]

more detail added to the Breaking News article posted on MSNBC. This quote looks troubling:

"Renuart added that, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities."

"We're aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We're aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."

[rphope]

News conference live now - They are detailing the effects of Hydrazine. very interesting...

Shooting down after Shuttle Lands.

Concerns about Hydrazine exposure Risk. BTW, effects of Hydrazine:
Symptoms of acute exposure to high levels of hydrazine in humans may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, coma, and it can also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The liquid is corrosive and may produce dermatitis from skin contact in humans and animals. Effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, and thyroid have been reported in animals chronically exposed to hydrazine via inhalation. Increased incidences of lung, nasal cavity, and liver tumors have been observed in rodents exposed to hydrazine.

[ekt8750]

Their biggest concern is that they don't want the secrets that that satellite contains to "get int he wrong hands".

[sid]

I would imagine the safety concerns, if any real ones exist, are being used as an excuse to test anti satellite weapons without upsetting world opinion.

[rphope]

I would imagine the safety concerns, if any real ones exist, are being used as an excuse to test anti satellite weapons without upsetting world opinion.

ya isn't that funny. When China did it a few months back US Officials were condemning the act. Also the path doesn't even appear to come near North America? 

[UpsetBrit]

News conference live now - They are detailing the effects of Hydrazine. very interesting...

Shooting down after Shuttle Lands.

Concerns about Hydrazine exposure Risk. BTW, effects of Hydrazine:
Symptoms of acute exposure to high levels of hydrazine in humans may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, coma, and it can also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The liquid is corrosive and may produce dermatitis from skin contact in humans and animals. Effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, and thyroid have been reported in animals chronically exposed to hydrazine via inhalation. Increased incidences of lung, nasal cavity, and liver tumors have been observed in rodents exposed to hydrazine.

Sounds like VX. OK, maybe not as bad, but still....

I still think this satellite business is a cover story for a flase flag. If it comes down harmlessly, i will be surprised.

[rawiron1]

How are they going to do it?  The only weapon that we have is the ASAT missile fired by the F-15 and I don't think we have used one of these in a real world event.

Probably will miss and hit the space station.

Jason

[rphope]

carries 1,000lbs. of hydrazine. It never burned off as the satellite never worked.

NEXT week they will make a first attempt. This has never been tested before.

Oh ya, and Bush will be out of the country in Africa while this is attempted.

[ghardy]

ya isn't that funny. When China did it a few months back US Officials were condemning the act. Also the path doesn't even appear to come near North America? 

the sine wave effect of a flattened map does not show(well it does a little) that the pattern shifts every orbit.  in 3 or 4 days, it will be directly over the u.s.

[rphope]

the sine wave effect of a flattened map does not show(well it does a little) that the pattern shifts every orbit.  in 3 or 4 days, it will be directly over the u.s.

Wow, CNN just said the window of opportunity opens in 3-4 days. WTF!!!

[rphope]

"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."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7aoM2ii3QVBCAV8m2HtJSuPxPNwD8UQA5R00

[strgzr]

US plans to shoot down satellite

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7245578.stm

Missile launched from USS Decatur during a Missile Defense Agency ballistic missile flight June 22, 2007.
The Pentagon is said to want to shoot the craft down from a ship
The US military is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite due to crash land on Earth in the next few weeks, the Pentagon has announced.

President George W Bush approved the option to fire a missile from a US Navy ship to destroy the satellite before it enters the atmosphere, officials said.

They say the satellite contains a hazardous material which could be fatal if inhaled by humans.

A US general denied claims that the main aim was to destroy secret parts.

General James Cartwright said confidential components would be burned up in the atmosphere and, in any case, that would not be a reason for shooting down the satellite.

He said the satellite, launched in December 2006, had lost power and communications shortly after it entered space and a controlled re-entry was not possible.

The broken satellite was expected to hit the top of the Earth's atmosphere by the end of February or early March.

The craft contains a high quantity of hydrazine rocket fuel in a tank that would survive re-entry.

Burning sensation

Gen Cartwright said that exposure to the hydrazine would have similar effects to inhaling chlorine or ammonia - a burning sensation in lungs and, if too close and too much, then possibly death.

If the hydrazine tank did burst, the danger zone would be an area covering the size of two football pitches.

He said they would have one missile shot, and then a two-day window to reassess if a second attempt was required.

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

[UpsetBrit]

Stay indoors if possible, but make sure you have cameras rolling. We know what they're capable of... including chemical missile attacks blamed on toxic debris from space.

Hopefully it's a fuss over nothing.

[cueball7]

Just don't trust this situation-with the advanced technology we're not told about-taking down that satellite should be a piece of cake-a false flag event? An environmental "emergency" which would cause a greater loss of freedom? We need to keep our eyes peeled on this one. 

[RadioSilence]

Judging by previous tests of missile defense systems, they might need a lot of ammunition to hit the target.