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US 'confident' over satellite hit US 'confident' over satellite hit
(10 minutes later)
The US is confident that its shooting down of a disabled spy satellite with a missile managed to destroy its potentially toxic fuel tank.The US is confident that its shooting down of a disabled spy satellite with a missile managed to destroy its potentially toxic fuel tank.
Marine Gen James Cartwright said there was a "reasonable degree of confidence" that the tank was destroyed.Marine Gen James Cartwright said there was a "reasonable degree of confidence" that the tank was destroyed.
A fuel ball, vapour cloud and spectral analysis indicating the presence of hydrazine all indicated that the tank had been hit, he told reporters.A fuel ball, vapour cloud and spectral analysis indicating the presence of hydrazine all indicated that the tank had been hit, he told reporters.
The operation has been criticised by China and Russia.The operation has been criticised by China and Russia.
"We're very confident that we hit the satellite," Gen Cartwright said at a Pentagon briefing. "We also have a high degree of confidence that we got the tank."
It would take another 24-48 hours for officials to confirm whether the operations had been completely successful, he said.
Gen Cartwright said he could not rule out that hazardous material might fall to earth, but said that "thus far we've seen nothing larger than a football".