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Russia: US Satellite Shot a Weapons Test

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia said Saturday that U.S. military plans to shoot down a damaged spy satellite may be a veiled test of America’s missile defense system.

Russian defence ministry statement: “The decision to destroy the American satellite does not look harmless as they try to claim.”

“In our opinion, the decision to destroy the U.S. satellite is not as harmless as it is being presented. Especially as the United States has been avoiding talks on restricting a space arms race for quite a long time,” the ministry’s information department said in a statement.

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. US 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.

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”.

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.

US caught lying again? Well, they can’t lie about the fact that there is a satellite coming down. But they can lie about the nature of the satellite and exaggerate the dangers involved. What makes this specific satellite so special that it warrants a shoot down? All satellites have dangerous fuel and toxic components, those evaporate during the heat and friction of re-entry. The size of the satellite will be reduced to a molten blob of metal and all the plastics will have evaporated. That leaves exactly what? The remaining concern is the insurance liability if the satellite debris impacts your property, or the dog in your back yard, or Aunt Matilda. I’m inclined to agree that there is more set up work being made for an excuse to justify a real time missile test.

Posted by bosskitty February 16th, 2008 | Category: Cold War, Deception, Missile tests, Russia, Satellites, Secret, consequences, contamination, cover up, department of defense, disinformation, spy, spy agencies | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL