Did we REALLY shoot down a satellite?

[Trunk]

Can I just get some confirmation outside the people who have a vested interest in the success of this?

Doesn’t it all seem real pat to you?

Last year the Chinese shoot down a satellite, pretty dramatically.

Now, within about month we hear about a satellite that will be crashing. They talk about hazardous fuel. About, what, 10 days ago, they start talking about how we might shoot it down. So, they go out in the middle of the Pacific, ask everyone to step aside.

And now, all we’re lacking is the missile posing in front of a banner that reads, “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”.

I’ve clicked on “video” of this. All I saw was a computer animation. Some of the copy reads like, “had the Navy missed, this would have been embarrassing.”

Am I just being too suspicious/oblivious? Is this actually an easy task that we’ve been suited for for years.

Are there “satellite trackers” who have tracked this thing, and now realize that it’s gone?

[Tristan]

I’m sure there are backyard astronomers that will chime in any minute now to state that they were tracking it, and now it’s gone, or in drastically different form (several smaller pieces, rather than one large one).

However, since we had already done this once before in 1989, with a modified air-to-air missle, there’s no reason whatsoever to claim that it’s a conspiracy. It’s just application of existing technology.

So yes, you are being a bit overly suspicious, imo.

[Trunk]

What’s the cite on shooting one down in 1989.

Gail Collins in the New York Times today says, “The only known instance of somebody shooting down a satellite occurred last year when the Chinese brought down one of their old weather satellites, also citing vague threats to humanity.”

[Squink]

@Trunk

Did we REALLY shoot down a satellite?

No, the whole Aegis/SM-3 story is just cover for a secret manned lunar mission.

[Trunk]

@Trunk

What’s the cite on shooting one down in 1989.

Gail Collins in the New York Times today says, “The only known instance of somebody shooting down a satellite occurred last year when the Chinese brought down one of their old weather satellites, also citing vague threats to humanity.”

I did find this, but it’s not surface-to-air.

@Baltimore Sun

On Sept. 13, 1985, the fighter took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, climbed to 80,000 feet and released the missile. Its target was an active, 1,800-pound scientific satellite called Solwind P78-1, orbiting 290 miles above Earth, according to company histories. The missile homed in on the satellite at a closing speed of 15,000 mph and destroyed it on impact.

[friedo]

@Trunk

I did find this, but it’s not surface-to-air.

This article from CNN says it was 1989, not 1985.

@CNN

In 1989, a U.S. fighter jet destroyed an American satellite by firing a modified air-to-air missile into space from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

[Philster]

@Trunk

Am I just being too suspicious/oblivious? Is this actually an easy task that we’ve been suited for for years.

Are there “satellite trackers” who have tracked this thing, and now realize that it’s gone?

Yes

and

Yes.

[toadspittle]

Well, we actually did shoot down the satellite. I don’t think anyone (aside from the OP) is questioning that.

As for the REASONS … who knows?

The stated reason, public safety, probably had a 5% weight in the final decision (but a 95% share of the publicity for the shoot).

Protecting secrets (i.e., components of the sat. that might otherwise have survived reentry and been back-engineered if found by the Chinese or Russians) probably accounts for 30%.

Testing our anti-missile/anti-satellite technology, 35%.

Sending a message to the Chinese et al. that “we can kill satellites, too,” another 30%.

[Tristan]

@Trunk

What’s the cite on shooting one down in 1989.

Gail Collins in the New York Times today says, “The only known instance of somebody shooting down a satellite occurred last year when the Chinese brought down one of their old weather satellites, also citing vague threats to humanity.”

Interesting. All the news sources around are mentioning the 1989 ASAT test, but this article (warning, PDF) by Bob Aldridge fails to mention it, instead describing a test in 1984 in which a satellite was destroyed by missile.

A follow up check with Wiki finds references to a Sept. 1985 successful test of our ASATA missile against a Solwind satellite.

I have had a devil of a time finding corroborating statements in regards the 1989 test that “everyone” knows about. I will keep looking though.
To summarize, however, even though the 1989 test may or may not be apocryphal, the 1985 test is certainly true.

[guizot]

@toadspittle

Well, we actually did shoot down the satellite. I don’t think anyone (aside from the OP) is questioning that.

As for the REASONS … who knows?

The stated reason, public safety, probably had a 5% weight in the final decision (but a 95% share of the publicity for the shoot).

Protecting secrets (i.e., components of the sat. that might otherwise have survived reentry and been back-engineered if found by the Chinese or Russians) probably accounts for 30%.

Testing our anti-missile/anti-satellite technology, 35%.

Sending a message to the Chinese et al. that “we can kill satellites, too,” another 30%.

You have to squeeze in a few percentage points for the fact that we simply like to shoot things.

[carnivorousplant]

@Tristan

To summarize, however, even though the 1989 test may or may not be apocryphal, the 1985 test is certainly true.

I hope Direct TV doesn’t get their hands on one of these.

[Trunk]

@Philster

Yes

and

Yes.

So, can anyone point to independent sources of confirmation?

Is there video of the destruction? Who are the independent satellite trackers who have confirmed this?

I don’t need bikini atoll, but let’s just say the last few years haven’t put me in the most trusting state-of-mind when it comes to our military.

[Tristan]

Why not? You’ve got NASA and other sources saying it’s done. If it weren’t, you can be sure the Chinese and the Russians would be crowing about it.

Distrust the military all you want, what would the purpose be in lying about this though?

[Squink]

Video here.
Aircraft borne sensors detected the spectra of hydrazine in the debris cloud after the intercept.

[fiddlesticks]

@Trunk

So, can anyone point to independent sources of confirmation?

Is there video of the destruction? Who are the independent satellite trackers who have confirmed this?

Here is a major Satellite Observation mailing list. Watch this space in the coming days.

[Chefguy]

So how much did this useless exercise in machismo cost the US taxpayers? Did we really need to spend this money, when the liklihood of a land strike was so small? I know I’m venturing into opinion or debate here, but this really pisses me off.

[friedo]

@Squink

Video here.
Aircraft borne sensors detected the spectra of hydrazine in the debris cloud after the intercept.

Awesome.

[friedo]

@Chefguy

So how much did this useless exercise in machismo cost the US taxpayers? Did we really need to spend this money, when the liklihood of a land strike was so small? I know I’m venturing into opinion or debate here, but this really pisses me off.

According to various news sources, from $40 to $60 million.

[fiddlesticks]

The dead satellite already was a waste of money on the order of a billion dollars so the shootdown cost is a drop in the overall bucket…

[Finagle]

Maybe confirmation:

http://spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=Rob-Ratkowski-eUSA193-1096_1203580632.jpg

If you look at spaceweather.com, you’ll see some photos of the satellite track from a few days ago. People know where the satellite was and where it’s expected to be. If it’s still visible, you’ll find out soon enough.