http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/ Engadget Comments for Pentagon to shoot down renegade spy satellite http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
Lets hope they do a better job blowing it up than China did with theirs.]]>Feb 14th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 5:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/My understanding is that this satellite is in a much lower orbit than the Chinese satellite, so much so that it is going to re-enter the atmosphere in a matter of weeks. The debris from this operation (if successful) will not stay in orbit for very long.
If however, you destroy a satellite in a higher orbit where working satellites exist, you risk having other satellites damaged as the debris will stay in [a valuable] orbit much longer.

That is why the Chinese "test" is worthy of more criticism. Although... this still seems to be a bit of oneupmanship based on prior statments that indicated a risk to people on the ground was extremely remote.]]>Feb 14th 2008 9:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Could it be possible that some of the debris get kicked into a much higher orbit?]]>Feb 16th 2008 5:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
Also, the main concern with this whole episode (aside from the obvious concerns of spy satellite tech falling into unfriendly hands) has been that the fuel contained in the satellite is toxic and could be spread over populated areas. If we can get rid of all (or most) of that fuel through combustion, it will allay that fear.]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 5:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 5:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 5:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
if all else fails, blow it up! lol
]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
Leave it whole and risk it getting all the way to the gorund.
]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1447206620080214
seems to imply that they are using the weapons to nudge the satellite away from human populations. I'm a tad confused about what exactly they plan to do.

Multiple small chunks might be considered preferable because the small chunks are more likely to vaporize in the Earth's atmosphere upon reentry. That's my guess at least.

The Reuters article said that they were not very concerned about the actual satellite hitting humans but rather with the fuel in the satellite leaking out. Apparently the fuel is poisonous.]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/ ...fuel...

Lol!

Yeah, we all know that applying a few thousand re-entrydegrees to rocket fuel just changes it into a hard solid.

]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
Wait... I can't edit comments....]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrazine

Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable, especially in the anhydrous form. 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.

Been used since WW II as rocket fuel...]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
OK, I'm done commenting about posts. Sorry for your wasted time.]]>Feb 14th 2008 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
That, of course, is where it will end. No one would dare post about a post commenting about a post that pointed out the etiquette of double posting. Of course not.]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/



Can they play doom?]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/



Given the failure rate of the laser guided bombs America used in the previous Gulf War is it advisable to launch missile into orbit and pray they don't screw up and take out the International Space Station?]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 5:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
If you don't trust your software maker not to kill you, when even running a nav software or something in your car.... than you know something is wrong.]]>Feb 14th 2008 5:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/Feb 14th 2008 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/pentagon-to-shoot-down-renegade-spy-satellite/
Besides, the US has got gobs of missiles just sitting around waiting to blow stuff up. It'd be a shame to have them go to waste ;)]]>Feb 14th 2008 4:19PM