A Standard
Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the USS Lake Erie to destroy a failing spy
satellite on Feb. 20.
The
interceptor rocket was modified from its usual function of targeting short- and
medium-ballistic missiles, as part of the U.S. Navy's AEGIS missile defense
system, and recalibrated to target the defunct satellite. The SM-3 intercepted the
satellite 133 nautical miles (210 km) above the Pacific Ocean as the latter traveled at more than
17,000 mph.
The successful
destruction of the satellite has been seen by outside analysts as an
anti-satellite test, and perhaps a response to China's similar
demonstration over a year ago.
—U.S. Navy and SPACE.com Staff
Credit: U.S. Navy
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