The US president allowed to shoot down reconnaissance satellites

On February 14, the Pentagon announced that the US military was planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite. This satellite is about to fall to Earth in the next few weeks.

President Bush approved the solution to fire a missile from a US Navy ship to destroy the satellite before it entered the atmosphere. Officials said it was necessary to shoot down because the satellite contained a toxic material that could be fatal if everyone inhaled.

General James Cartwright denied information that the option to shoot down satellites to destroy secret parts. He said that even without being shot down, secret parts would ignite in the atmosphere.

A spy satellite (Photo: Reuters)

This national spy satellite was launched in December 2006. It has lost power and cannot be reached immediately after being launched into space. It is predicted that the satellite will enter the Earth's atmosphere in late February or early March and officials cannot predict where it will fall on the surface of the Earth.

General James Cartwright said the opportunity to shoot down the satellite will open in the next three or four days, and last about a week .

The deputy national security adviser, James Jeffries, said thousands of celestial bodies fell on Earth each year without causing any threat to humans. However, the case of the satellite is slightly different because it is possible that when it falls to the Earth's surface, it can release up to 454 kg of hydrazine fuel, a toxic gas.

Hydrazine rocket fuel should have been used up if the satellite was operating normally. Exposure to this fuel has the same effect as inhaling chlorine or ammonia - a burning sensation in the lungs and if too close or too much can be fatal. Shoot down satellites will disperse harmless hydrazine in space, leaving only small pieces of satellites falling to Earth. If not shot down, the fuel tank will explode when landing, spreading poisonous gas over an area with two football fields.

General Cartwright said that they intended to fire a missile from the Aegis warship. If the first shot fails, they will decide if a second shot is needed.