US Navy is going to shoot down the American spy satellite USA 193

USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or L-21 for short) is an American military spy satellite that belongs to the National Reconnaissance Office. Its objective and scope of activity are classified as secret. It was the first object launched to the orbit by the United Launch Alliance on 14 December 2006. Approximately a month after the launch to the Earth's orbit all communications with the satellite were irretrievably lost due to a computer breakdown.

In January 2008 it was announced that the lost satellite’s orbit was gradually narrowing and the satellite could fall to Earth somewhere between 58.5 N and 58.5 S within weeks.

The small bus-sized American spy satellite circulates around the Earth like hundreds of other satellites, with one difference: there are no communications with it. The US authorities announced such news last month, and now they have decided that this hazardous object must be short down. The Pentagon is planning to fire several missiles within days.

Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey says satellites and other space objects have been crashing to Earth for the past 30 years and no one has ever been injured. Yet he explains that what is different about this small bus-sized satellite is that it still contains a full tank of toxic gas that could be released into the atmosphere.

Poland is one of the several dozen countries that have been notified of the potential danger. The US authorities have notified other countries’ governments of the whole situation and the related risk.

Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. James Cartwright confirmed that the satellite launched to orbit in December 2006 soon lost any communications with the Earth. As one of the experts explained the satellite has a small engine through which it can be controlled in such a way that it falls down in a safe region on completion of its mission. Usually this is done over the Pacific Ocean. But with no radio communications any control is impossible.

According to Gen. Cartwright the satellite is approx. 2.5 ton heavy, and at least a half of this weight would re-enter the atmosphere. Cartwright reminds that during the Columbia catastrophe in 2003 the hydrazine container remained and landed on Earth (in Texas) intact. However, when the shuttle exploded it was close to the end of its mission, and the tank was nearly empty. As Jeffrey assures there is minimum probability that anyone could suffer. However, to be on the safe side the US government has assured that is shall cover all possible damages done by the falling fragments.From : http://www.ts2.pl/