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USA 193 Shootdown Set For Feb 21, 03:30 UTC

Posted by kdawson on from the gardyloo-in-the-pacific dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Amateur satellite watcher Ted Molczan notes that a "Notice to Airmen" (NOTAM) has been issued announcing restricted airspace for February 21, between 02:30 and 05:00 UTC, in a region near Hawaii. Stricken satellite USA 193, which the US has announced plans to shoot down, will pass over this area at about 03:30. Interestingly, this is during the totality of Wednesday's lunar eclipse, which may or may not make debris easier to observe."

3 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder by cslax · · Score: 5, Interesting

    if they chose the eclipse date on purpose. We'll wait and see what they say AFTER it all happens.

  2. Re:Good coverage by Cassius+Corodes · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There is also some interesting analysis done by the Federation of American Scientists that suggests this is just an excuse to test out some anti-satellite missiles. An interesting read.

    http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2008/02/us_plans_test_of_anti-satellit.php

    --
    Control is an illusion, order our comforting lie. From chaos, through chaos, into chaos we fly
  3. Three reasons by jmichaelg · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I think there are three reasons they're spending $60 M to destroy the satellite. They are
    1. They don't want a repeat of Skylab where parts landed in Australia and made us look bad.
    2. If it comes down in Russia (Russia spans 11 time zones so that's not too unlikely) they don't want the Russians to be able to figure out much from the debris.
    3. They want a chance to test their anti-satellite weaponry on a real target that isn't saying "Over here! I'm over here! Here I am! Yoo Hoo!"
    There's actually a 4th reason - blowing stuff up is fun but they would never cop to it.