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Schadow
Vice Admiral
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 936
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
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 Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: A big Bravo Zulu to the Navy! |
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| Quote: | Military says missile hit spy satellite
WASHINGTON - A missile launched from a Navy ship successfully struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing 130 miles over the Pacific on Wednesday, a defense official said. Full details were not immediately available. It happened just after 10:30 p.m. EST
Two officials said the missile was launched successfully. One official, who is close to the process, said it hit the target. He said details on the results were not immediately known.
The goal in this first-of-its-kind mission for the Navy was not just to hit the satellite but to obliterate a tank aboard the spacecraft carrying 1,000 pounds of a toxic fuel called hydrazine.
U.S. officials have said the fuel would pose a potential health hazard to humans if it landed in a populated area. Although the odds of that were small even if the Pentagon had chosen not to try to shoot down the satellite, it was determined that it was worth trying to eliminate even that small chance.
Officials said it might take a day or longer to know for sure if the toxic fuel was blown up.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=fe8_1203567172 |
Later reports indicate that the debris generated by the strike probably will reenter safely and not add to space junk in orbit. A high probability of destruction to the hydrazine tankage is also being voiced.
This mission, of course, was accomplished without a warhead - only the kinetic energy exchange between the bodies. Further, the relative coolness of the target complicated acquisition and tracking.
This is a really great accomplishment and should impress anyone thinking of launching any nasties our way.
Outstanding work, Navy.
Schadow
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Capt, 8th U.S. Army, Korea '53 - '54 |
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1991932
Lance Corporal
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 381
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if Michelle Obama is proud of her country now?
This is a great day for the US Navy. It is also a notable day for this site.
A Vice Admiral has come out of retirement and (at the other end of the seniority list) we have a new member, finally.
When does the Promotion Board convene?
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Former "War Criminal" |
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zinfella
Rear Admiral
Joined: 19 Aug 2004
Posts: 708
Location: Mesa, Az
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: A big Bravo Zulu to the Navy! |
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| Schadow wrote: |
Further, the relative coolness of the target complicated acquisition and tracking.
Schadow |
That was offset by the coolness of the shot and results. 
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No whiners! |
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ocsparky101
PO1
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 479
Location: Allen Park. Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| What is even more notable is that the world knows that Star Wars works. That greatly reduces the fear of rogue nations though not completely. It also finally compensates the damage caused by the Clinton administration when they gave nuclear secrets to the Chinese for campaign contributions. |
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jalexson
PO3
Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 272
Location: Hutchinson, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Great Shot 
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"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoe making and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poor house."
-- Mark Twain |
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