US spy satellite plan 'a cover'
- From: "captain." <spammersmustdie@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:59:50 GMT
US spy satellite plan 'a cover'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7248995.stm
Russia has accused the US of using a plan to shoot down a broken spy
satellite as a cover for testing an anti-satellite weapon.
The US said last week that it would use a missile to destroy the satellite,
to stop it from crash landing.
Officials say the satellite contains hazardous fuel which could kill humans.
But Russia's defence ministry said the US planned to test its "anti-missile
defence system's capability to destroy other countries' satellites".
The US says the satellite lost power and communications shortly after it was
launched in December 2006 and is now uncontrollable.
It says the satellite is carrying more than 1,000lb (454kg) of hydrazine
fuel in a tank which would survive re-entry, and the substance could be
released as a toxic gas if the satellite crash landed.
The Pentagon said on Saturday that the window for the operation would begin
on Wednesday, when the space shuttle Atlantis ended its current mission.
But Russia's defence ministry said the US had not given enough information
on the reasons for the decision.
"Speculations about the danger of the satellite hide preparations for the
classical testing of an anti-satellite weapon," a statement reported by
Itar-Tass news agency said.
"Such testing essentially means the creation of a new type of strategic
weapons," it added.
"The decision to destroy the American satellite does not look harmless as
they try to claim, especially at a time when the US has been evading
negotiations on the limitation of an arms race in outer space," the
statement continued.
The Russian defence ministry argued that various countries' spacecraft had
crashed to Earth in the past, and many countries used toxic fuel in
spacecraft, but this had never before merited such "extraordinary measures".
Toxic gas
The broken satellite had been predicted to reach the top of the Earth's
atmosphere towards the end of February or early March and officials could
not predict where it would land.
A US general said on Thursday that exposure to the hydrazine would have
similar effects to inhaling chlorine or ammonia - a burning sensation in
lungs and, if too close and too much, then possibly death.
He said that blowing the satellite up would disperse the hydrazine in space,
leaving only small-scale satellite debris to fall harmlessly to Earth.
The Pentagon says it plans to shoot down the satellite using a modified
missile from a US Navy ship in the Pacific.
Last year, China carried out a test using a ground-based ballistic missile
to destroy a satellite in space, prompting international alarm and fears of
a space arms race.
On Thursday, US General James Cartwright said there was no parallel with
Beijing's actions as the Chinese satellite had been much further out from
Earth, meaning its debris could be floating around for decades, endangering
spacecraft.
He also denied claims that the main aim was to destroy secret parts.
Gen Cartwright said confidential components would be burned up in the
atmosphere and, in any case, that would not be a reason for shooting down
the satellite.
.
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