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USA-193

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Template:Infobox Spacecraft USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21) was an American military spy satellite.[1] Owned by the National Reconnaissance Office, the craft's precise function and purpose were classified. This was the first launch conducted under contract to the United Launch Alliance.[2]

Launch data

Malfunction and orbital decay

Although launch and insertion into orbit were successful, the satellite lost contact with the ground within hours.[9]

In late January 2008, reports from anonymous U.S. officials indicated that a U.S. spy satellite, later confirmed as USA 193,[9] was in a deteriorating orbit and was expected to crash onto Earth within weeks.[10][11] This came as no surprise to amateur satellite watchers, who had been predicting the deorbit of the satellite for some time.[12]

Hazardous materials on-board

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports indicated that the satellite contained the hazardous materials hydrazine, and beryllium,[13] though there was also some speculation that the satellite might have a "nuclear" power core,[14] i.e. a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. The FEMA report indicates otherwise.

On January 29, 2008 an Associated Press story quoted a U.S. Air Force general as saying that contingency plans were being made since intact pieces of the satellite "might re-enter into the North American area".[15]

Destruction

Planning for the destruction of USA 193 with a missile reportedly began on January 4, 2008, with President Bush approving the plan on February 12.[16][17] The task force's goal was to, "rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth's atmosphere".[18]

On February 14, 2008, U.S. officials announced the plan to destroy USA 193 before atmospheric reentry, stating that the intention was "saving or reducing injury to human life". They said that "1,000 pounds of frozen toxic hydrazine propellant" were on board, which if it fell to Earth "could spread a toxic cloud roughly the size of two football fields".[19] General James Cartwright confirmed that the United States Navy was preparing to launch an SM-3 missile to destroy the satellite, at an altitude of 130 nautical miles, shortly before it entered Earth's atmosphere.[9]

An SM-3 missile, which was launched at 21 February 03:26 GMT from the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, hit the 5,015-pound (2,275-kilogram) satellite about 133 nautical miles (247 kilometers) over the Pacific Ocean with a velocity of about 22,783 mph (36,667 km/h), according to a Pentagon statement. It was not immediately clear whether the missile hit its precise target -- the satellite's full fuel tank. The Department of Defense said it will not know for 24 hours whether the fuel tank had been hit.[20][21] The satellite's remnants are expected to burn up over the course of the next forty days, with most of the satellite's mass re-entering the atmosphere within the first 24 to 48 hours after the missile strike.[18][22]

Political issues

The cost of the operation has been estimated at between $40 million and $60 million.[16] U.S. officials denied that the action was intended to prevent sensitive technology falling into foreign hands,[9] and also denied that it was a response to the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test.[23]

Although the U.S. had objected strongly to the earlier Chinese test of an anti-satellite weapon (or ASAT) which created a large amount of space debris, U.S. officials said there was "no parallel" with that test, as USA 193 was in a much lower orbit, and debris from its destruction would deorbit much sooner, probably within weeks.[9][24]

However, the Russian defense ministry accused the U.S. of using the hydrazine worries as a cover for a test of an ASAT, and noted that extraordinary measures had never before been needed to deal with the many spacecraft that had fallen to Earth.[24] The New York Times had already paraphrased Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the United States National Security Council, as stating that 328 objects had deorbited (controlled and uncontrolled) in the previous 5-year period.[25] U.S. officials maintained that the large quantity of hydrazine on board made USA 193 a unique case.[9]

Catalogue IDs

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c National Space Science Data Center: USA 193 spacecraft data
  2. ^ Metro Denver: United Launch Alliance set for takeoff
  3. ^ Jonathan's Space Report: No. 575 (2006 Dec 26)
  4. ^ Air Force Space Command: Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II
  5. ^ National Space Science Data Center: USA 193 orbit data
  6. ^ "Spaceflight Now - US plans to fire missile at falling spy satellite".
  7. ^ Ted Molczan (2008-02-11). "TJM obs of 2008 Feb 11 UTC; USA 193 elements". satobs.org.
  8. ^ Ted Molczan (2008-02-19). "Updated elements of USA 193". satobs.org.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Pentagon news briefing of February 14, 2008 (video, transcript): although no name for the satellite is given, the launch date of 2006-12-14 is stated
  10. ^ BBC: Satellite could plummet to Earth
  11. ^ New York Times: U.S. Spy Satellite, Power Gone, May Hit Earth
  12. ^ Ted Molczan (2007-01-27). "USA 193 elements from observations". satobs.org.
  13. ^ "FEMA":[1] FEMA's Memo About Falling Satellite
  14. ^ The Observer: US warns out-of-control spy satellite is plunging to Earth
  15. ^ New York Times: AF General: Spy Satellite Could Hit US
  16. ^ a b CNN: Attempt to shoot down spy satellite to cost up to $60 million
  17. ^ Associated Press: Satellite Shootdown Plan Began in Jan.
  18. ^ a b "DoD Succeeds In Intercepting Non-Functioning Satellite" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. February 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-20. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |release= ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Officials: U.S. to try to shoot down errant satellite". CNN. February 14, 2008.
  20. ^ "Satellite Shoot Down: How It Will Work". Space.com. February 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Navy Hits Satellite With Heat-Seeking Missile". Space.com. February 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "CNN: Navy missle hits satellite".
  23. ^ "Pentagon plans to shoot down disabled satellite". Reuters.
  24. ^ a b BBC: US spy satellite plan 'a cover'
  25. ^ New York Times: Satellite Spotters Glimpse Secrets, and Tell Them
  26. ^ a b CelesTrak: SATCAT search
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