A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a falling satellite. - Photo courtesy U.S. Navy image:37520:0::0

The U.S. Navy says its mission to shoot down a satellite that was falling back to Earth was a success. The Navy fired a single modified tactical missile, hitting the satellite at about 133 nautical miles over the Pacific Ocean. Now, China is not happy.

Digital Journal -- The U.S. Navy says its mission to shoot down a falling satellite was successful and has been confirmed by a network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors.

The satellite (the size of a school bus) was shot out of space at about 10:26 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 20. The satellite was travelling at more than 17,000 mph (27,359 km/h) and was downed by a modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3).

The Navy says its objective was to rupture the fuel tank and dissipate the hazardous fuel. As DigitalJournal.com previously reported, the satellite was loaded with about 1,000 lbs. of hydrazine, a fuel that can be harmful if it comes in contact with people.

However, some reports say the U.S.'s real reason for shooting down the satellite was to protect it from falling into the hands of other countries, as it might contain sensitive information. Jeffrey Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive, said the spacecraft is likely a photo reconnaissance satellite. Such satellites are used to gather information on terrorists, construction projects and military bases around the world.

A modified tactical missile was fired from a U.S. Navy cruiser to bring down a U.S. satellite as it fell back to Earth. image:37521:0::0

Critics say the U.S. only had one objective in shooting this satellite down: Ensuring it would not fall into the hands of the Chinese or Russians. U.S. officials, however, say protecting human life was the only goal in this mission.

The tank was ruptured by the U.S. Navy missile before the satellite entered into the Earth's atmosphere. The Navy now warns debris will follow because it was orbiting low, but said most of it should burn up on reentry over the next 24 to 48 hours.

China has been put on alert for falling debris, and the Chinese government has asked the White House to be prompt in delivering information as it becomes available.

At a news conference, China spokesman Liu Jianchao said: “China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries. China requests the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations in real earnest and provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way so that relevant countries can take precautions.”

China also accuses the U.S. of holding double standards; the country was criticized by the U.S. and other countries last year when it shot down one of its own satellites. Critics (including the U.S.) said the action was dangerous.


A U.S. warship fires a Standard Missile-3 during a military test. The same missile was used to shoot down the falling satellite. - Photo courtesy U.S. Navy
An editorial in the Communist party's newspaper, the People's Daily, said Washington was "desperately trying to explain away" this missile-take down "for purely non-military objectives" when in fact, China says, the U.S. has dangerous space ambitions and double-standards.

"The United States, the world's top space power, has often accused other countries of vigorously developing military space technology, but faced with the Chinese-Russian proposal to restrict space armaments, it runs in fear from what it claimed to love," the paper said.


Fire Controlman 2nd Class Andrew Jackson launches a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) from the Combat Information Center aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). - Photo courtesy U.S. Navy
The Chinese government is referring to a proposed treaty from China and Russia that sought to ban weapons in space, but Washington rejected the proposal, saying it was unworkable. The Guardian reports the U.S. government instead wants to pursue confidence-building efforts.

"The United States will not easily abandon its military advantage based on space technology, and it is striving to expand and fully exploit this advantage," the People's Daily report reads.

To see a video of the missile being launched (as well as a really horrible animation of its contact with the satellite), check out this AP report: