# Pentagon to shoot down satellite -- safety measure or weapons test?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-to-shoot-down-satellite-safety-measure-or-weapons-test/437731>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 15, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-to-shoot-down-satellite-safety-measure-or-weapons-test/437731 "2008-02-15T14:08:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-to-shoot-down-satellite-safety-measure-or-weapons-test/437731/41 "2008-02-16T04:36:16Z")

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[QUOTE=masterofnone]  
Wouldn’t the fuel burn up on re-entry?  
[/QUOTE]

It’s 1,000 lbs (not 100, as previously stated in error), and encased in a titanium sphere. This titanium sphere would likely survive re-entry if it is not damaged, and release the hydrazine once it is finally damaged enough by either the re-entry process or impact with the surface.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-to-shoot-down-satellite-safety-measure-or-weapons-test/437731/42 "2008-02-16T04:47:10Z")

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See [How does shooting down a satellite help?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455911) over in GQ for more facty goodness.

It becomes increasingly obvious that this is not a safety measure, it is an ASAT weapons test.

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