Based on debris analysis, the US Department of Defense is "confident" the 20 February intercept of a crippled US spy satellite achieved its objective of rupturing the hydrazine tank and dissipating the hazardous fuel.
"From the debris analysis, we have a high degree of confidence that satellite's fuel tank was destroyed and the hydrazine has been dissipated," says Gen James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The defunct National Reconnaissance Office imaging satellite, launched in December 2006 and expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere by early March, was intercepted by a single modified Raytheon Standard SM-3 missile launched from the US Navy Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie in the Pacific Ocean.
China and Russia attacked the decision to shoot down the spacecraft before it reentered the atmosphere as a thinly veiled attempt to demonstrate the anti-satellite capabilities of the US missile defence system.
Gen Kevin Chilton, head of US Strategic Command, says the sole focus of operation Burnt Frost was to negate the risk posed by the reentering satellite's 450kg (1,000lb) of toxic hydrazine propellant.
"It was not the intent to create turmoil," said Chilton, speaking at a conference following the intercept attempt. "I don't think this will have a lot of bounce historically."
The defunct satellite was at 247km (133nm) altitude when it was intercepted. Chilton says the altitude was chosen to minimise space debris.
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© US Department of DefenseSM-3 missile launch for USS Lake Erie |
The DoD says it is tracking less than 3,000 pieces of debris, "all smaller than a football. The vast majority of debris has already reentered or will shortly reenter the Earth's atmosphere in the coming days or weeks."
Source: FlightGlobal.com