Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 9 2008

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Explosion of USA 193 following interception by the SM-3 missile.

USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21), was an American military spy satellite launched on 14 December 2006. Owned by the National Reconnaissance Office, the craft's precise function and purpose were classified, and were only held available to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency. This was the first launch conducted under contract to the United Launch Alliance.

The satellite malfunctioned and was subsequently hit and destroyed (pictured) by an SM-3 missile fired from the warship USS Lake Erie, located west of Hawaii, on 21 February 2008 at approximately 03:30 GMT. (more...)