 |
         
|
Both ABC and CBS had lined up the Pentagon's plan to shoot down USA 193 as its lead before Northern Illinois intervened. USA 193 is a malfunctioning spy satellite that is falling out of orbit. The USNavy proposes to destroy it at the height of 150 miles with a missile from an Aegis cruiser before it falls to Earth. CBS' David Martin covered the ostensible rationale for the missile shot, to evaporate 1,000lbs of hydrazine fuel that might be toxic if the tank crashed into the ground intact before splitting apart. NBC's skeptical Jim Miklaszewski offered another possible explanation: "It is Star Wars all over again." The Pentagon may want to show off its "gee-whiz" missile defense technology. ABC's skeptical Jonathan Karl (embargoed link) theorized that the two-year-old 5,000lb USA 193 was so filled with highly-classified advanced reconnaissance gear that the Pentagon wanted to destroy it in outer space so that it would not fall into the hands of Russia or China.
You must be logged in to this website to leave a comment. Please click here to log in so you can participate in the discussion.
