February 21, 2008 12:27 PM PST
The SM-3 races toward space and its rendezvous with the satellite. It had to be quick and accurate--the nonfunctioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite was moving at a sprightly 17,000 miles per hour.
Debris from the intercept was expected to begin entering the atmosphere immediately, and nearly all of it should burn up during re-entry within the next two days, with any remainder re-entering within 40 days, the Pentagon said. Confirmation on whether the main goal was accomplished--destroying the fuel tank--should come within 24 hours.
Photo by U.S. Navy
Caption by
Jonathan Skillings
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