Thu 21 Feb 2008
A Defective U.S. Satellite Has Been Successfully Shot Down!
Posted by Jon Haynes under News
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The Satellite was shot down with an SM-3 missile, which is actually designed to knock down incoming missiles and not satellites, was launched from the USS Lake Erie at 10:26 p.m. EST, which is about 5:26 p.m. in the Pacific (the USS Lake Erie is stationed at Pearl Harbor, in spite of her name to contrary). The Defective Satellite contained about 450kg or 1000 pounds of hydrazine fuel, which could be lethal if inhaled in high concentrations. This satellite was of course a huge waste of money like many other things the U.S. spends money on. The the real danger in this operation was not necessarily the contents of the satellite, but rather the political and international ramifications. The only other country to successfully shot down a satellite is China, so we may be trying to one up them by showing we have the ability to also shot down satellites. Another highly likely reason for shooting down this satellite is probably that satellite either contained sensitive information or technology we would not like to fall into the hands of possibly the Chinese, or some terrorist organization.
“We are worried about something showing up on eBay,†said John Pike, director of the defense research group GlobalSecurity.org. Breaking up the satellite’s pieces lessens the chance that sensitive U.S. technology could wind up in Chinese hands, he added.
I say the Chinese, since it would give them more intelligence to make decisions on how and which of our satellites would need to be brought down in a time of conflict. Even though China is not currently hostile towards us they are building up their military, despite the their lack of any immediate threat. If I still have not convinced you of how sensitive of an operation this was, the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had to make the actual call to shoot down the satellite. Robert Gates is not a military commander, but is more of a political figure head as a member of the Cabinet. If I a have still failed to convince you of how sensitive a mission this was, maybe a photograph of one of the naval personnel involved on this mission with an assault rife will change that. As always I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this satellite shoot down.
080218-N-5476H-071 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 18, 2008) Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Jordan Govero, a native of Fenton, Mich., keeps an eye on the ocean as the gun watch aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie. Lake Erie is operating off the coast of Hawaii in preparation for a ship’s Board of Inspection and Survey. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Hight (Released)
071106-N-0000X-002 PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 6, 2007) – A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is launched from Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) to intercept a threat representative target as part of a Missile Defense Agency test of the sea-based capability under development. This was part of a multiple simultaneous engagement involving two ballistic missile targets that were intercepted about 250 miles from Kauai and approximately 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean. The SM-3 was one of two interceptors launched from the ship that collided with two ballistic missile targets launched from the Pacific Missile Range Test Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, within minutes of one another. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)
080218-N-5476H-050 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 18, 2008) Seaman Robert Paterson, of Norgo, Cal., stands watch next to the aft vertical launch missile platform on the Fantail while underway on the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). Lake Erie is conducting operations off the coast of Hawaii in preparation for a ship’s Board of Inspection and Survey. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Hight (Released)
071207-N-8623G-225 PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Dec. 7, 2007) Guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) Sailors man the rails and render honors to USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor survivors as part of a pass-in-review during a joint U.S. Navy/National Park Service ceremony commemorating the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,500 people joined Sailors, Pearl Harbor survivors and their families and friends onboard Naval Station Pearl Harbor for the annual observance. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Elisia V. Gonzales (Released)
