Satellite-Killer in Infrared

An infrared look at the SM-3 missile that shot down a dying spy satellite.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• spy
• satellite
• missile
• navy
• sm-3

[SixFt12]

I don't think they ever expected the fuel to burn up. The point was to disperse the fuel into the atmosphere so it doesn't all land in a concentrated (and possibly populated) area. Now instead of 10 people dying instantly, we can all breathe the polluted air and slowly die over the next 100 years.

[greenbeenie60]

it called a good show so russians and china will think twie.

[hotrod4you2]

@SixFt12 thats just is not true but thats what u people like to do discredit the u.s.a anyway with your brand of hate that (other radicals in other countries feed on, you liberals are working w/ radical terrorist and just don't know it, you both have the same goals, you people are so smart, so smart to not see the big picture, maybe you can people counld find somewhere eles to live

[fmoa]

to show china that yanks can kill a satellite wit a much smaller missile,the chinese yap say they av kill a satellite,guess what,it was a ballistic missile size missile that chinese use,u.s use a small missile,satellite kill was done in 80's too by ruski n u.s,the yanks use a F15 that carry a ASAT missile to kill a satellite back in 80's,so for the chinese claiming they the 1st,sorry mates,yanks n ruski av done it 28 yrs ago.

[loveisnow2]

each satilite carries a tiny amount of plutonium which when exploded creates radioactive material which 1 lb of it in our atmosphere could kill everything on earth. Why would they explode it? Currently there are 50 lbs of plutonium in space. No weapons in space please, we need to clean up our mess as it is.And what if we lost all power on earth? I fear to think of the satilites falling then.

[crackerman2525]

Why wouldn't we want china to get a hold of it? I'm sure they're manufactoring half of the god damn thing anyways.

[CaptainMidnight85]

This satellite was compromised...

[CoWolArc]

For test purposes, you're right -- we did pick a cleaner target. However, these missles aren't for everyday use on "ideal" targets; they're for war. In war, nations don't worry so much about the consequences or possible collateral damage they might inflict.

Basically, if used in anger, the US won't worry about how much debris an enemy satellite makes. :(

Cheers.

[mnkylzard]

The difference being that their shots left it's debris floating, ruining that particular orbit for future use. So from what I understand, because the satellite here was in decaying orbit anyway the debris fell through the atmosphere.

[Mindraker1]

Guys, you know this was all to prevent the satellite from falling into the hands of foreigners. It had absolutely nothing to do with "fuel". If there were fuel on that satellite it would have helped it blow up.

[CoWolArc]

To those commenting on showing China: What did we show them? That we can do what they've already done?

Afterall, this is by no means the first time anybody has shot one of their own satellites down.