Missile Strikes a Spy Satellite Falling From Its Orbit
WASHINGTON — A missile interceptor launched from a Navy warship has struck a dying American spy satellite orbiting 130 miles over the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon announced late Wednesday.
Completing a mission in which an interceptor designed for missile defense was used for the first time to attack a satellite, the Lake Erie, an Aegis-class cruiser, fired a single missile on Wednesday night.
US missile hits 'toxic satellite'
Operatives had only a 10-second window to hit the satellite - USA 193 - which went out of control shortly after it was launched in December 2006.
Officials were worried its hydrazine fuel could do harm, but it is not yet known if the fuel tank was destroyed.
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.
clipped from news.bbc.co.uk
clipped from motls.blogspot.com
