Allows Time For Second Attempt If First Misses

Thursday's the day. In the interest of allowing as much time as possible should a second attempt be necessary -- and, so there is no risk a misfire would endanger the space shuttle Atlantis -- US Navy officials will reportedly make their first attempt to shoot down a faulty reconnaissance satellite February 21.

Citing officials who spoke anonymously, due to the classified nature of the program, CNN reports the military will make its first attempt to shoot down the errant satellite Thursday, one day after the space shuttle's scheduled landing following its mission to the International Space Station.

As ANN reported, Pentagon officials announced last week a plan to shoot down the satellite, which was launched from California just over one year ago. The top-secret satellite stopped responding to commands from earth shortly after it reached orbit.

Ostensibly, the plan is aimed at protecting those on the ground from hazardous materials onboard the satellite, including its nearly-full hydrazine fuel tank, if the satellite was allowed to fall out of orbit on its own, sometime early next month. But the plan has two additional benefits to the military, as well.

Destroying the satellite will prevent the sensitive technology onboard -- specifically, a top-secret imaging sensor -- from potentially falling into the hands of China, Russia, or Iran -- as no one is really sure where debris from the deorbiting satellite would land. It will also give the US military its first chance to test a planned missile defense system under real-world conditions.

Officials hope the missile will strike the satellite at the edge of Earth's atmosphere -- so that debris re-enters, and burns up.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin noted this week even if the attempt fails to hit the satellite, there's no way anyone on the ground could make the situation worse.

"If we miss, nothing changes," said Griffin. "If we shoot and barely touch it, the satellite is just barely in orbit" and would still burn up at least partially in the atmosphere.

"If we shoot and get a direct hit, that's a clean kill and we're in good shape," he added.

FMI: www.pentagon.mil, www.nasa.gov