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."
"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.
It would take another 24-48 hours for officials to confirm whether the operations had been completely successful, he said.
BROKEN SATELLITE Owner: National Reconnaissance OfficeMission: ClassifiedLaunched: 14 Dec 2006Weight: 2,300 kg (5,000lbs)1,134kg (2,500lbs) could survive re-entryCarrying hydrazine thruster fuel
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".
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".
The satellite, USA 193, was struck with a missile fired from a warship in waters west of Hawaii.
Operatives had only a 10-second window to hit the satellite, which went out of control shortly after it was launched in December 2006.
China called on the US on Thursday to provide more information about the mission.
Russia suspects the operation was a cover to test anti-satellite technology under the US missile defence programme.
The US denies the operation was a response to an anti-satellite test carried out by China last year, which prompted fears of a space arms race.
SATELLITE DESTRUCTION 1 SM-3 missile launched from a US Navy cruiser in Pacific Ocean2 The three-stage missile headed for collision location, where the relative "closing" speed was expected to be 10km/s (22,000mph)3 Satellite came in range at altitude of 247km (133 nautical miles), close to edge of Earth's atmosphere4 Missile made contact with satellite with objective of breaking fuel tank, freeing hydrazine into space5 Much of the debris will burn up but an as yet unknown amount is expected to be scattered over hundreds of kilometres
