Pacific Spirit Marine Institute

Spy Satellite Hit. So says the Department of Defense!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Another flurry of activity. It’s a hit. At 10:26 p.m. EST The Spy Satellite, or as it’s now being called ‘non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite has been hit while in its final orbits.

The USS Lake Erie fired the modified tactical Standard Missile-3 and hit the spy satellite approx. 133 nautical miles over the Pacific Ocean and the USS Decatur and Russell assisted in the task.

Don’t hold your breath though, confirmation on the fuel tank will only be available within the next 24 hours. Debris should begin to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere “pretty much NOW” or immediately since the satellite was relatively low in altitude.

Pay attention here when the DoD says, “Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.”
Okay, debris falling imediately, debris falling 23-48 hours and debris falling within 40 days. I got lost somewhere in the debris of the debris. Maybe tomorrow at 7 a.m. when the DoD holds a briefing I’ll have a greater understanding.

The briefing will be live at www.Defenselink.com through the Pentagon Channel.

Labels: Department of Defense, Pacific Ocean, U.S. Spy Satellite, US Navy, USS Lake Erie, USS Russell, Uss Decatur