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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Satellite could plummet to Earth | Satellite could plummet to Earth |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A "large" US spy satellite has gone out of control and is expected to crash to Earth some time in late February or March, government sources say. | A "large" US spy satellite has gone out of control and is expected to crash to Earth some time in late February or March, government sources say. |
| Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the satellite had lost power and propulsion, and could contain hazardous materials. | Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the satellite had lost power and propulsion, and could contain hazardous materials. |
| The White House said it was monitoring the situation. | The White House said it was monitoring the situation. |
| A spokesman said "numerous" satellites had come out of orbit and fallen back to Earth harmlessly over the years. | A spokesman said "numerous" satellites had come out of orbit and fallen back to Earth harmlessly over the years. |
| "We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause," said Gordon Johndroe, who speaks for the US National Security Council. | "We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause," said Gordon Johndroe, who speaks for the US National Security Council. |
| Questioned by The Associated Press, he would not be drawn on whether the US would try to destroy the satellite, perhaps with a missile. | Questioned by The Associated Press, he would not be drawn on whether the US would try to destroy the satellite, perhaps with a missile. |
| An unnamed official quoted by AP said the US government was keeping lawmakers and other countries abreast of the situation. | An unnamed official quoted by AP said the US government was keeping lawmakers and other countries abreast of the situation. |
| The agency notes that the largest uncontrolled re-entry by a US space agency (Nasa) craft was Skylab, a 78-tonne abandoned space station that fell from orbit in 1979. | The agency notes that the largest uncontrolled re-entry by a US space agency (Nasa) craft was Skylab, a 78-tonne abandoned space station that fell from orbit in 1979. |
| Its debris dropped harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia, the US news agency says. | Its debris dropped harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia, the US news agency says. |
| In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound (3,175-kg) science satellite hit the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would crash. | In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound (3,175-kg) science satellite hit the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would crash. |