# US will attemp to shoot down crippled satellite **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745 "2008-02-15T15:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/1 "2008-02-15T15:52:05Z")
Here’s the [link](http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/15/america/15satellite.php). Could be interesting to see how this works out. I found this part a bit puzzling: > [@](#): > > The ramifications of the operation are diplomatic, as well as military and scientific, in part because the United States criticized China last year when Beijing tested an antisatellite system with an old weather satellite as a target. The objection to the chinese test was that it generated significant orbital debris that will persist for a long time, whereas this satellite is about to fall anyway, so persistent debris isn’t an issue. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/2 "2008-02-15T16:26:59Z")
It’ll be interesting to see if it can be done. Our mythical Star Wars missile defense system aims for a very similar mission, and the track record is less than stellar. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/3 "2008-02-15T17:10:16Z")
Actually, and U.S. Navy cruiser will use a missile to “engage” the stricken satellite. The PA guidance for the event does not contain the words “shoot,” “shoot down”, “destroy,” or “explode.” ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/4 "2008-02-15T17:44:38Z")
I get the distinct impression that the President want them to do this just because it will be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/5 "2008-02-15T17:49:17Z")
The crippled satellite should be given the official designation “Christopher Reeve” and the missile “SA _Eastern Express._” ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/6 "2008-02-15T17:55:57Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] It’ll be interesting to see if it can be done. Our mythical Star Wars missile defense system aims for a very similar mission, and the track record is less than stellar. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] It’s been done using an F-15 as the launch platform. I’m assuming a satellite, being in a predictable orbit, is a little easier to hit than an incoming ICBM. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/7 "2008-02-15T23:58:34Z")
[QUOTE=Tully Mars] It’s been done using an F-15 as the launch platform. I’m assuming a satellite, being in a predictable orbit, is a little easier to hit than an incoming ICBM. [/QUOTE] The article says “Aegis” and “SM-3”, which means a cruiser will be the launch platform. That program has been very successful, AskNott. ICBM’s are reasonably predictable, too. The problem with shooting them down is detecting, tracking, and intercepting in a timely manner. I’ve forgotten how long it takes an ICBM to cross half the world, but it must be on the order of 30 minutes to an hour. They have days for this. The hard part with “shooting down” a satellite is that gravity being what it is, they do not fall down just because you hit them with a big missile. So, they have to wait until it is low enough down that the debris does not orbit, and be able to predict roughly where the debris will strike. cher3, no need for the Bush bashing. I’m sure a prime reason for destroying the satellite is to destroy the imaging technology on it, and make sure it sinks into the deep blue sea where no one will find it. Destroying the hydrazine fuel is a bonus. If Bush just thought it would be cool, he could shoot at any number of defunct satellites. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/8 "2008-02-16T01:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=SlowMindThinking] ICBM’s are reasonably predictable, too. The problem with shooting them down is detecting, tracking, and intercepting in a timely manner. [/QUOTE] I thought the problem was that although they move in a predictable arc, they are very, very fast. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/9 "2008-02-16T04:28:09Z")
Shoot it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/10 "2008-02-16T04:37:08Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] Shoot it from orbit. [/QUOTE] Then you have those nasty pieces in orbit like the Chinese left to possibly cause havoc with other satellites. And if my C-Band is affected, I’ll be _really_ pissed. 🙂 Or do you mean shoot it from a device in orbit? We’ve probably got one, but don’t want anyone to know about it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-will-attemp-to-shoot-down-crippled-satellite/437745/11 "2008-02-16T22:43:45Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I thought the problem was that although they move in a predictable arc, they are very, very fast. [/QUOTE] They are fast, but if they were as fast as satellites, they’d be in orbit. (Technically, they are in orbit, just one that intersects the Earth’s surface.) I have never heard that we have missiles in space. That sounds like the old Thunderbirds show.