[FPSPACE] FW: Lake Erie Crew Describes Satellite Shot

[Allen Thomson]

> The satellite was unlike any target the system was designed
> to go after, the captain said. The satellite was in orbit 
> rather than on a ballistic trajectory. Also, the satellite
> was traveling at incredible  speeds.

This seems to be true and is an interesting point that I hope people
will examine in some depth to see if it's actually significant. That
is, the version of the SM-3 missile used was designed to intercept
short-to- medium-range ballistic missiles at lower altitudes and
velocities than the satellite.  USA-193, on the other hand, was in a
trajectory (aka orbit) generally similar to that of an ICBM warhead a
few hundred kilometers uprange of its target.  So has this somewhat
modest naval missile demonstrated a potential for late-midcourse,
point-defense anti-ICBM application?