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.
The Pentagon failed to
provide "enough arguments'' to back its plan to smash the satellite
next week with a missile, Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"There
is an impression that the United States is trying to use the accident with its satellite
to test its national anti-missile defense system's capability to destroy other
countries' satellites,'' the ministry said.
The Bush administration
says the operation is not a test of a program to kill other nations' orbiting
communications and intelligence capabilities. U.S. diplomats around the world
have been instructed to inform governments that it is meant to protect people
from 1,000 pounds of toxic fuel on the bus-sized satellite hurtling toward
Earth.
The diplomats were told to
distinguish the upcoming attempt from last year's test by China of a missile
specifically designed to take out satellites, which was criticized by the
United States and other countries.
Known by its military
designation US 193, the satellite was launched
in December 2006. It lost power and its central computer failed almost
immediately afterward, leaving it uncontrollable. It carried a sophisticated
and secret imaging sensor.
Left alone, the satellite
would likely hit Earth during the first week of March. About half of the
5,000-pound spacecraft would probably survive its blazing descent through the
atmosphere and would scatter debris over several hundred miles.
Military and administration
officials said the satellite is carrying fuel called hydrazine that could
injure or kill people who are near it when it hits the ground.
The operation to shoot down
the dead satellite could happen as soon as next week.
advertisement
