USA 193

USA 193

Infobox_Spacecraft


Caption = Delta II launching USA 193, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 2006
Name = USA 193 (NROL-21)
Organization = U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
Mission_Type = Spy satellite
Satellite_Of = Earth
Launch = December 14, 2006, 21:00:00 UTC
Carrier_Rocket = Delta II 7920-10
Mission_Duration = Failed immediately after launch
NSSDC_ID = 2006-057A
Mass = ~2,300 kg (~5,000 pounds)
Power = Classified
Fuel = Hydrazine
Cost = [ [http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/1779/usa-193-comes-down "hundreds of billions of dollars"] ]

Orbital_elements = Yes
Orbit_regime = LEO
Inclination = 58.48°
Apoapsis = 257 km, as of February 21, 2008
Periapsis = 242 km, as of February 21, 2008

USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21), was an American military spy satellite launched on December 14, 2006.National Space Science Data Center: [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-057A USA 193 spacecraft data] ] It was the first launch conducted by the United Launch Alliance. [cite web | title = United Launch Alliance set for takeoff - Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation | url=http://www.metrodenver.org/news-center/metro-denver-news/ULA.html | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] Owned by the National Reconnaissance Office, the craft's precise function and purpose were classified.

The satellite malfunctioned shortly after deployment, and was intentionally destroyed 14 months later on February 21, 2008, by a modified, $9.5 million SM-3 missile fired from the warship USS "Lake Erie", stationed west of Hawaii. [cite web | title = US shoots down rogue satellite: World: News: News24 | url=http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2274693,00.html | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/21satellite.html?ex=1361336400&en=ea5702ff269483cc&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss NY Times: Missile Strikes a Spy Satellite Falling From Its Orbit] ] The event highlighted growing distrust between the U.S. and China, and was viewed by some to be part of a wider "space race" involving the U.S., China, and Russia. [http://www.forbes.com/businessinthebeltway/2008/02/21/china-aerospace-satellites-biz-beltway-cx_bw_0221china.html Forbes: A New Space Race? ] ]

Design

USA 193 was part of the NRO's Future Imagery Architecture, which was begun in 1997 to produce a fleet of inexpensive reconnaissance satellites, but has become the agency's most spectacular failure.cite web|author=Philip Taubman |title=In Death of Spy Satellite Program, Lofty Plans and Unrealistic Bids |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/washington/11satellite.html?pagewanted=1| publisher=The New York Times] USA 193 was initially developed by Boeing, which won the contract in 1999, beating out Lockheed Martin with proposals for innovative electro-optics and radar. But after cost overruns, delays, and parts failures, NRO sent the contract to Lockheed, which built USA 193 around the Boeing radar design.cite news|author=Taubman, Philip|title=In Death of Spy Satellite Program, Lofty Plans and Unrealistic Bids|date=November 11, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/washington/11satellite.html|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2008-02-20] Lockheed Martin and Boeing both supported the launch, the first in the joint effort known as the United Launch Alliance. [cite web|title=E-305 New Radar Capability|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/e-305.htm|date=|accessdate=2008-02-20]

USA 193 weighed about convert|5000|lb|kg|0, with a body thought to be convert|15|ft|m|0 long and convert|8|ft|m|0 wide, estimates based on the maximum Delta II payload. With the radar antenna extended, USA 193 was about the size of a basketball court.cite news|author=Covault, Craig|title=Falling Radar Satellite Adds to NRO Troubles|work=Aviation Week|publisher=The McGraw-Hill Companies|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/aw020408p2.xml&headline=Falling%20Radar%20Satellite%20Adds%20to%20NRO%20Troubles|date=February 6, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-23]

Launch data

* Launched: December 14, 2006 at 21:00:00 UTC
* Launch vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II-7920 rocketJonathan's Space Report: [http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.575 No. 575 (2006 Dec 26)] ]
* Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, United States
* Launch facility: Space Launch Complex 2W [cite web | title = Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II | url=http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123035657 | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ]
* Orbit data: not officially available, as spy satellites often change position and do not have regular orbits. [cite web | title = NASA - NSSDC - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details | url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftOrbit.do?id=2006-057A | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] Reported by amateur observers to be (perigee, apogee, inclination):
**349 km × 365 km × 58.48° after launch,cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0802/14nrol21/|title=Spaceflight Now - US plans to fire missile at falling spy satellite]
**255 km × 268 km × 58.48° on 2008-02-11,cite web |url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2008/0194.html | title=TJM obs of 2008 Feb 11 UTC; USA 193 elements | date=2008-02-11 | publisher=satobs.org | author=Ted Molczan|authorlink=Ted Molczan]
**244 km × 261 km × 58.50° on 2008-02-19.cite web |url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2008/0385.html | title=Updated elements of USA 193 | date=2008-02-19 | publisher=satobs.org | author=Ted Molczan]
**The orbit was decaying at an increasing rate.

Malfunction and orbital decay

The satellite entered orbit successfully but lost contact with the ground within hours.Pentagon news briefing of February 14, 2008 ( [http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/Administrator/pentagon20080214.asx video] , [http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4145 transcript] ): although no name for the satellite is given, the launch date of 2006-12-14 is stated]

In late January 2008, reports from anonymous U.S. officials indicated a U.S. spy satellite, later confirmed as USA 193, was in a deteriorating orbit and was expected to crash onto Earth within weeks.BBC: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7211443.stm Satellite could plummet to Earth] ] New York Times: [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/us/27spy.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=login U.S. Spy Satellite, Power Gone, May Hit Earth] ] This came as no surprise to amateur satellite watchers, who had been predicting the deorbit of the satellite for some time. [cite web | url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2007/0282.html | title=USA 193 elements from observations | date=2007-01-27 | publisher=satobs.org | author=Ted Molczan]

Hazardous materials on-board

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports indicated that the satellite contained the hazardous materials hydrazine and beryllium. [cite web | title = The article you've requested is not available. | url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gplWae8TycEv3PRQP2Ti9N0hdApAD8UUDHS8 | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] Though there was some speculation that the satellite might have a "nuclear" power core, [cite web | title = US warns out-of-control spy satellite is plunging to Earth | World news | The Observer | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2247796,00.html | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] i.e. a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, the FEMA report indicates otherwise.

On January 29, 2008 an Associated Press story quoted a U.S. Air Force general as saying that contingency plans were being made since intact pieces of the satellite "might re-enter into the North American area". [cite news | title = Pentagon: Satellite Debris Not a Danger - New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Dead-Satellite.html | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ]

In respecting the Liability Convention, the United States vowed to pay for any damage or destruction caused by their failed satellite. [cite web | title = U.S. vows to pay for damage caused by satellite
Science
Reuters
url=http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL1587228120080215?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&rpc=22&sp=true | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008
]

Destruction

Planning for the destruction of USA 193 with a missile reportedly began on January 4, 2008, with President Bush approving the plan on February 12, [cite web | title = The Associated Press: Satellite Shootdown Plan Began in Jan. | url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-LGWDsbeGibIxXzslvQKZrVIW2gD8UR1JKG0 | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ] at an expected cost of $40 million to $60 million.cite news |first= Jamie |last= McIntyre |authorlink= |coauthors= Mike Mount |title= Attempt to shoot down spy satellite to cost up to $60 million |url= http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/02/15/spy.satellite/index.html |work= CNN |publisher= CNN |date= 2008-02-15 |accessdate=2008-02-23 ] The task force had as its goal to "rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on Earth, before it entered into Earth's atmosphere".

On February 14, 2008, U.S. officials announced the plan to destroy USA 193 before atmospheric reentry, stating that the intention was "saving or reducing injury to human life". They said that if the hydrazine tank fell to Earth it "could spread a toxic cloud roughly the size of two football fields".cite news
title=Officials: U.S. to try to shoot down errant satellite
url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/02/14/spy.satellite/index.html
publisher=CNN
date=February 14, 2008
] General James Cartwright confirmed that the United States Navy was preparing to launch an SM-3 missile to destroy the satellite, at an altitude of convert|130|nmi|km, shortly before it entered Earth's atmosphere.

On February 21, 03:26 GMT a SM-3 missile was fired from the "Ticonderoga"-class missile cruiser USS "Lake Erie", and intercepted USA 193 about 133 nautical miles (247 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean. The satellite was travelling with a velocity of about 17,500 mph (around 28,000 km/h or 7.8 km/s). The velocity of the impact was about 22,000 mph. The Department of Defense expressed a "high degree of confidence" that the fuel tank was hit and destroyed. [cite web|title= Pentagon confident missile hit satellite fuel tank|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080220/update_satellite_080221/20080221?hub=TopStories|publisher=CTV Television Network|date=February 21, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-21] The satellite's remnants were expected to burn up over the course of the next 40 days, with most of the satellite's mass re-entering the atmosphere 24 to 48 hours after the missile strike.cite press release|title=DoD Succeeds In Intercepting Non-Functioning Satellite|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11704|date=February 20, 2008|release=No. 0139-08|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|accessdate=2008-02-20] [cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/02/20/satellite.shootdown/index.html|title=CNN: Navy missile hits satellite]

U.S. officials denied that the action was intended to prevent sensitive technology falling into foreign hands, and also denied that it was a response to the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test.cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1447206620080214?sp=true
publisher=Reuters
title=Pentagon plans to shoot down disabled satellite
] This was not the first time the United States shot down one of its own satellites; the Air Force had shot down a satellite as early as 1985. [cite web | title = Anti-satellite weapon used simple technology - space - January 20, 2007 - New Scientist Space | url=http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn11000-antisatellite-weapon-used-simple-technology.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-22 | year = 2008 ]

Although the U.S. had objected to the earlier Chinese test of an anti-satellite (or ASAT) weapon, U.S. officials said there was "no parallel" with that test. The Chinese test destroyed a target in a high, stable orbit, leaving a large amount of space debris in orbit, while the destruction of USA 193 in a much lower orbit would create debris that would likely deorbit within weeks.BBC: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7248995.stm US spy satellite plan 'a cover'] ]

Controversy

The Russian government claims that this exercise was a test of the U.S. missile defense program. [http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7248995.stm] The defense ministry of Russia accused the U.S. of using the hydrazine worries as a cover for a test of an ASAT, and noted that extraordinary measures had never before been needed to deal with the many spacecraft that had fallen to Earth. Indeed, the "New York Times" had paraphrased Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the United States National Security Council, as stating that 328 objects had deorbited (controlled and uncontrolled) in the previous 5-year period.New York Times: [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/science/space/05spotters.html Satellite Spotters Glimpse Secrets, and Tell Them] ] However, U.S. officials maintained that the large quantity of hydrazine on board made USA 193 a special case. According to General Kevin P. Chilton, when Bush was briefed on the situation, the danger that shooting down the satellite would be perceived as an ASAT test was brought up, and Bush made his decision based on the dangers of an uncontrolled reentry. [cite news | work = The Space Review | title = Assessing the hazards of space hydrazine, and the media reportage of it | author = James Oberg | date = Monday, August 25, 2008 | url = http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1195/1 A shorter version of this article was published as cite web | title = U.S. Satellite Shootdown: The Inside Story | author = James Oberg | date = First Published August 2008 | work = IEEE Spectrum Online | url = http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aug08/6533 ]

Other observers dismiss the threat of the hydrazine, suggesting that the effect of the cloud, when diluted over a large area, would likely be mild: "The hydrazine tank is a 1-meter sphere containing about 400 liters of hydrazine. The stated hazard area is about 2 hectares, something like 1/10,000,000,000 of the area under the orbit. The potential for actual harm is unbelievably small."cite web | last = Shachtman | first = Noah | title = Experts Scoff at Sat Shoot-Down Rationale (Updated) | url=http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/02/15/index.html | publisher = Wired.com] Other analyses, such as those cited by Yousaf Butt, show the hydrazine tank burning up in the upper atmosphere. [cite news | work = The Space Review | url = http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1200/1 | title = On the technical study of USA 193’s fuel tank reentry | author = Yousaf Butt | date = Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Also cite news | title = Technical comments on the U.S. satellite shootdown | author = Yousaf Butt | date = 21 August 2008 | url = http://thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/technical-comments-the-us-satellite-shootdown | work = Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists web edition The NASA study was "Atmospheric Reentry of a Hydrazine Tank" by Robert L. Kelley and William C. Rochelle.]

Two examples of uncontrolled atmospheric re-entries causing (or almost causing) damage are the 1978 re-entry of Cosmos 954, a Soviet satellite, which landed in Canada and spread dangerous amounts of radioactive materials over large tracts of land, and Skylab's 1979 re-entry, which rattled windows and dropped small pieces of debris onto buildings in Esperance, Western Australia (no significant monetary damage resulted, but the U.S. was symbolically fined $ 400 for littering). No weapon existed in 1978 to bring down Cosmos 954, and a Soviet anti-satellite weapon, the first of its kind, was declared operational only ten days before Skylab re-entered the atmosphere, and was not capable of directing the space station's descent.

Before the destruction of USA 193, Pentagon officials repeatedly denied that it was meant to bolster the U.S. missile defense program. Six days after USA 193's destruction, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, "the mission's success shows that U.S. plans for a missile-defense system are realistic" though in the same statement it was confirmed that the weapons and systems used for this mission will not retain their ASAT capability, and will be reconfigured back to their original purpose as tactical missile. [Washington Times: [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/NATION/561841575/1002/NATION Success of satellite hit confirmed] ]

Debris

The launch of at least one other satellite was postponed to avoid space debris from USA 193. An Atlas V launch hot line recording indicated the debris would delay the launch of a different National Reconnaissance Office satellite (NRO L-28) as, "a precautionary measure." [cite web | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9qeX5-VCIh45GpuV6hmMWgbnVwQD8V3EQQO4 | title = Rocket Delayed to Avoid Space Debris | publisher = The Associated Press]

Catalogue IDs

* Satellite Catalog Number: 29651CelesTrak: [http://celestrak.com/satcat/search.asp SATCAT search] ]
* International Designator: 2006-057A

Gallery



Delta II launched carrying USA 193, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA, December 2006
RIM-161 Standard missile 3 that destroyed USA 193, February 20, 2008
Missile_launching_from_the_USS_James E. Cartwright (left), and Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England follow the progress of the Standard Missile-3.

ee also

* P78-1, a US satellite in a convert|290|mi|km|sing=on orbit that was destroyed during a 1985 US Air Force ASM-135 ASAT test.
* 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test
* Anti-satellite weapon
* Kill vehicle
* Space debris
* Space warfare

References

External links

Wikinewshas|related news|*
*
*‎

* Zarya: [http://www.zarya.info/Tracking/USA193/USA193.php Digest and Maps of the USA-193 Interception]
* SatTrackCam Leiden: [http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2008/01/usa-193-imminent-decay-in-news.html USA 193 imminent decay in the news]
* [http://mfile.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355/wm.nasa-global/Administrator/pentagon20080214.asx Video of press meeting on the the planned destruction] (WMV format) and [http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4145 transcript]
* Local viewing opportunities: [http://www.heavens-above.com/usa193.aspx Heavens-Above.com]
* CNN: [http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/02/19/satellite.shootdown U.S. to shoot down satellite Wednesday, official says]
* [http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/06057A/USA_193_NOTAM_Feb_21-25_UTC.pdf Satobs.org: "Trajectory Chart"]
* [http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=29651&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET USA 193 Current Orbit Data] - heavens-above.com
*cite video|people=|title=Missile Intercept|date2=2008-02-21|url=http://dodvclips.mil/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=FRdamp250959&rf/|format=|medium=video| publisher= U.S. Department of Defense|location=|accessdate=2008-02-21|time=|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • USA-193 — (NROL 21) Delta II launching USA 193, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 2006 Operator U.S. National Reconnaissance Office Mission type …   Wikipedia

  • USA-193 — NROL 21 Caractéristiques Organisation NR …   Wikipédia en Français

  • USA 193 — NROL 21 Caractéristiques Organisation …   Wikipédia en Français

  • USA 193 — (NROL 21) Lanzamiento del vehículo espacial Delta II con el USA 193 desde la base aérea de Vandenberg, California, en diciembre de 2006 Organizaci …   Wikipedia Español

  • USA-193 — Заказчик NRO Задачи разведка …   Википедия

  • USA 193 — Start von USA 193 (NROL 21) mittels einer Delta 7920 Rakete USA 193, auch bekannt als NRO Launch 21 (NRO L 21, NROL 21, L 21), war ein US amerikanischer experimenteller Spionagesatellit.[1] Der Satellit, dessen genaue Funktion geheim gehalten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USA-193/NROL-21 — USA 193 USA 193 NROL 21 Caractéristiques Organisation NR …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Что собой представляет американский спутник-шпион USA-193 — Власти США планируют 20 февраля вечером уничтожить аварийный спутник шпион с токсичным топливом на борту. Американский разведывательный спутник USA 193 (также известен как NROL‑21) был запущен компанией United Launch Alliance по заказу Управления …   Энциклопедия ньюсмейкеров

  • USA-202 — Operator NRO Bus Mentor Mission type ELINT Launch date 18 January 2009 02:47 UTC Carrier rocket …   Wikipedia

  • USA PATRIOT Act — Full title Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 Acronym USA PATRIOT Act, also Patriot Act Enacted by the 107th United States Congress …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”