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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US 'to shoot down spy satellite' | US 'to shoot down spy satellite' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US military is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite due to crash land on Earth in the next few weeks, US news agency AP reports. | The US military is planning to shoot down a broken spy satellite due to crash land on Earth in the next few weeks, US news agency AP reports. |
| Pentagon officials are quoted as saying they want to fire a missile from a US Navy ship to destroy the satellite before it enters the atmosphere. | Pentagon officials are quoted as saying they want to fire a missile from a US Navy ship to destroy the satellite before it enters the atmosphere. |
| Last month, officials said the satellite had lost power and could contain hazardous materials. | Last month, officials said the satellite had lost power and could contain hazardous materials. |
| The Pentagon is due to hold a briefing on the subject later. | The Pentagon is due to hold a briefing on the subject later. |
| The broken satellite was expected to hit the top of the Earth's atmosphere by the end of February or early March. | |
| It is believed to be the size of a small bus and weigh about 20,000lb (9,000kg). There has been a lot of speculation that the craft contains a high quantity of hydrazine rocket fuel that would cause it to explode on re-entry. | |
| When news of the spy satellite's problems was first announced last month, 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. |