Shuttle to Stay Out of Spy Satellite’s Way
EmailABC’s Gina Sunseri, covering the current shuttle mission from Houston, reports that in order to get Atlantis on the ground and out of the Defense Department’s way, it will activate the landing strips at both the Kennedy Space Center and Edwards Air Force Base in California on Wednesday, when the shuttle is scheduled to land. This is not standard procedure. To save expense and trouble, NASA usually only brings up KSC on the first landing day, and if the weather interferes, they wait. It’s actually cheaper to let the astronauts orbit for an extra day than it is to have landing crews at the ready at Edwards, and then ship a shuttle all the way across the country to Florida. At last count, a California landing cost NASA an extra $1.7 million. Atlantis, orbiting somewhat higher and in a very different orbit from USA 193, is not actually "in the way" of potential debris if the Navy’s missile works, but shuttles have been dinged by small pieces of space junk before, and, well, things have gotten complicated enough. Look HERE for NASA’s map of the shuttle/Space Station orbital track, and HERE for Heavens-Above’s unofficial track of the spy satellite.
TechBytes (02.10.12) 
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Unfortunately, if the missile does hit the satellite, debris is going to go all over the place at high speed. Even a successful strike is potentially dangerous, because of that. If the missile misses, there’s just one lump on a predictable trajectory, unless they destroy it. Then, you’re back to square one, with little tiny pieces parts scattered all over the place moving at high velocity. I sure hope the boys at the Cape have got their slide rules properly oiled.
Posted by: Andy | February 16, 2008, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Oh gee, the defense department never thought of that mister obvious. You are thinking of the Chinese firing on their satellite and the resulting tens of thousands of pieces of debris now circling the earth for decades. Nice work there. Orbit location is the difference – our satellite will soon de-orbit by itself because it is so low. Debris will do the same (burning up on the way down), even when blown slightly higher by the impact.
Posted by: cheesedrippings69b | February 16, 2008, 9:40 am 9:40 am
SO, Are “they” going to ground airplanes when this thing is being hopefully brought down? I hope someone has thought of this!
Posted by: Tic Toc Tic Toc | February 16, 2008, 11:06 am 11:06 am
The best way to bring down a james bond is —– don’t send it up in the first place. By the way —– How much did this thing cost and who was held responsible for it not working.
Posted by: jackmack | February 16, 2008, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
The best way to bring down a james bond is —– don’t send it up in the first place. By the way —– How much did this thing cost and who was held responsible for it not working.
Posted by: jackmack | February 16, 2008, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
If the missile misses and doesn’t destroy itself, it will go into orbit and create a new hazard. If the missile is unarmed, depending on direct collision to destroy the satellite, it probably can’t destroy itself.
Posted by: John Williams | February 18, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
I just love all of the armchair rocket scientists that know so much about what this satellite and missile can and can’t do. The shear speculation becomes reality to them making it all so real. Hey folks, why don’t we leave it to the REAL experts?
Posted by: Vizorsdn | February 18, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Wow. Sending a missile at 22,000 MPH to hit a 3 foot target (fuel tank) while the satellite moves. And all at the same time trying not to hit the space station, or any other satellite. Best of luck guys!
Posted by: Not Available | February 20, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
In case the missile misses, would it fall down to hit us?
Posted by: thomas | February 20, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm