Senior Armed Services Committee Republicans Hail Successful Intercept of Non-Responsive Satellite

Feb 20, 2008
Press Release

Contact: Josh Holly-202.226.3988 

Senior Armed Services Committee Republicans Hail Successful Intercept of Non-Responsive Satellite 

Washington D.C. – Senior Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee today hailed the U.S. Department of Defense’s successful intercept of a disabled National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite which could have posed a risk to public safety upon its reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. 

“Shooting down this rogue satellite before it could potentially cause injury was the responsible course of action.  The successful intercept is further validation of America’s sea-based missile defense capability,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), the senior Republican of the House Armed Services Committee. 

“I am pleased with the textbook precision with which our military was able to intercept the failed satellite from low earth orbit.  This was a warranted action to safeguard lives on the ground from potential harm and it was expertly conducted to a successful conclusion.  This mission was not one we had envisioned or had much time to prepare for, yet the professionalism, skill and collaborative efforts of all involved were impressive.  The men and women aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and all our military from the Pacific back to the Pentagon deserve the nation’s thanks for a job well done,” said Rep. Terry Everett (R-AL), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. 

At approximately 10:26 p.m. last night, a U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser—the USS Lake Erie (CG-70)—fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) that hit the satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean.  At the moment of impact, the satellite was traveling through space at more than 17,000 mph.  Two Navy destroyers—the USS Decatur (DDG-73) and the USS Russell (DDG-59)—also participated in the task force.  

According to the Department of Defense, debris began to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere immediately due to the low altitude of the satellite.  Nearly all of the debris is expected to burn up on reentry within the next 24 - 48 hours.  The remaining debris should reenter the Earth’s atmosphere within 40 days.  The Department believes the SM-3 impacted the hydrazine tank directly; further analysis should confirm this within the next 24 hours. 

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