Satellite Shootdown May Occur Wednesday

According to a story I was just reading the military's may attempt to shoot down a wayward U.S. spy satellite as it falls toward Earth as early as Wednesday night, but no final decision on timing has been made, officials said.


Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Tuesday that senior military officers, including Gen. Kevin Chilton, the head of the U.S. Strategic Command, are evaluating the situation and will advise Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the best time to carry it out. The plan is to fire a missile that would release a "kinetic kill vehicle," a non-explosive device, on a path that would enable it to collide with the satellite, destroying the spacecraft and its components by force of impact alone.

I was just wondering, and hope that one of you knows the answer, to "why aren't we using a missile with an explosive warhead, instead of the "kinetic kill vehicle". It would seem that even if it was not a direct hit, that an explosive warhead, would have a better opportunity to destroy the satellite. If you do know, please let us know! Thanks! More updates as further information becomes available!


shootdown