US Satellite Could Be Nuclear, Pundit MP Tells Russian TV

Text of “Vesti” news report by state-owned Russian television channel Rossiya on 15 February [the channel led with this report; in its headlines, it said: "The Pentagon launches star wars. The US spy satellite in a spin is to be shot down. But is it the desire to save human lives that is, alone, the US motive?"]

[Presenter Yelena Martynova] From the US today came news which, at the very least, gave rise to consternation and serious concern on the part of Russian military experts. Washington has taken an unprecedented decision, which is to shoot down its own spy satellite, in an out-of-control spin, with a missile. There is highly toxic fuel on board the two-tonne spacecraft. It is unclear on whose heads its poisonous fragments will crash.

The Russian experts, however, have another view. It is that the satellite’s innards could be nuclear. One way or the other, there is bewilderment in the State Duma as to why the US did not deem it necessary to agree such a key move with other nations. Ilya Klimov has the details:

[Correspondent] The unprecedented decision to shoot down the spy satellite that is on its way down was taken by the supreme commander- in-chief, US President George Bush, personally. Despite the fact that the issue of technology is not one of the US leader’s strong points, the military was able to find arguments anyone would understand. Precisely what they are is for the moment unclear.

The spacecraft, one of the latest spy satellites, went out of control straight after launch. The fact, however, that it was to crash somewhere on Planet Earth became known just three weeks ago. The Pentagon admitted that this huge spacecraft, the size of a bus, would not have enough time to burn up in the atmosphere. When and where its fragments will fall is impossible to predict.

Officially, there is half a tonne of hydrazine, a toxic fuel, on board the satellite. The probability that a toxic cloud from it will hang over a population centre on Earth is small. The military, however, decided not to take any risks, and to destroy the satellite. A missile will be used to do it, from Earth.

[Gen James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, to translation] A Standard-3 anti-missile will be used to eliminate the satellite. There will be a launch window in roughly four days’ time, and it will remain open for another week. At the moment, we are working to choose the best location for this launch.

[Correspondent] Journalists know about this location. The Aegis anti-missile system will be used. It is fitted to US Pacific Fleet cruisers. The US has already used it to shoot down similar targets, although there have been some misses. Nevertheless, the unilateral decision of the US Administration could not but provoke a whole number of questions, the main one of which is whether the danger is not more serious than what the Pentagon reassures everyone it is. Russia’s military is not convinced that half a tonne of a poison will be the only thing that will tumble on people’s heads out of space.

[Igor Barinov, deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Defence (One Russia member)] This satellite, as our military’s analysis confirms, is unusual. No solar panels can be seen on it. This could indicate that there is a nuclear plant aboard this satellite or something else which the US is trying to conceal, for it not to be discovered when the satellite falls.

[Correspondent] Even if the US is not trying to conceal anything, the use of the latest anti-missile defence system for real could be interpreted as upsetting the international balance that has come about, and as an open show of force which could provoke an arms race.

[0100-0335]

Originally published by Rossiya TV, Moscow, in Russian 1400 15 Feb 08.

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