[FPSPACE] "Down in Flames" -- how the mass media got the satellite shootdown story wrong

[John Locker]

I have been following , with interest the various commentaries , articles 
etc relating to the destruction of ISA 193 on orbit.

My own view is explaned on my website http://satcom.website.orange.co.uk/ 
[  hit the USA 193 tab ] "Operation Burnt Frost , a target of  opportunity" 
and chronicles how the story unfolded

One thing that is rarely if ever discussed  when musing about why 193 was 
taken out    is probably the most important aspect.

Just what was NROL 21 and why was it so important ?
It was slated as being one of the most advanced classified spacecraft ever 
launched....it was a technical demonstrator.
If we accept the theroy that the tank would have survived re-entry , then 
what else would have fallen to earth with it ?
Was USA 193 heavilly clad to protect against thermal or fragmentation attack 
?
Did the Pentagon really want any of its advanced technology falling into the 
wrong hands should any major components  survive re-entry?


There is no doubt that the destruction was a great technical achievement and 
demonstration of fire power  , but it seems the biggest mistake the Pentagon 
made was to treat the media with total contempt  , feeding it with bogus 
stories about the devastation that could be caused by this so called "toxic 
ice cube"


To solve the mystery ,we  need only to ask  . . . .  What was USA 193 and 
why was it so important that  the technology it used never fell into
the wrong hands ?

Food for thought.



John