Later today, at approximately 10:30 PM Eastern time (3:30 AM Universal), the United States Navy will (weather permitting) attempt to shoot down a US spy satellite using a modified sea launched SM-3 missile. The three-stage, solid-fuel Raytheon missile will be launched from a from a Ticonderoga class Aegis cruiser some 600 miles west of Hawaii. The Navy has decided to take this rather drastic action because the satellite, dubbed USA-193 for purposes of the shoot down (its real designation is apparently classified) contains a fuel cell full of hydrazine, a volatile and potentially hazardous chemical that could cause sickness or even death to humans if they were exposed to it upon re-entry. By destroying the satellite in space north of Hawaii, the hydrazine will be harmlessly released in orbit, and the resulting satellite debris likely scattered harmlessly over the northern Pacific Ocean and remote areas of Canada and West Africa, greatly reducing the chances of exposing populated areas to low altitude hydrazine residue.
At least, that’s the publicly stated reason.
There is, naturally, a degree of skepticism about this whole plan from the usual cold war suspects. Russia, led by former KGB officer Vladimir Putin, has speculated that this shoot down proposal is just a convenient excuse for an “off-budget” SDI test. Under this scenario, Washington would be using the obsolete satellite as target practice for a live fire exercise of new guidance technology developed under the SDI program. This notion is supported by the fact that the missiles to be used (there are three missiles and three launch windows over the next several days) are to be launched without explosive warheads. The Navy plan actually calls for a fully ballistic intercept (at over 22,000 MPH). Not only that, but the objective is to not just hit the satellite (which is as big as a school bus) but to pierce the spacecraft’s fuel tank specifically. A public demonstration of such technological proficiency would undeniably change the balance of Anti Ballistic Missile power greatly in favor of the US.
By using the hydrazine contamination as an excuse, this technological demonstration can be conducted without the international diplomatic complications that a similar -- though fully acknowledged -- SDI test would bring. Democrats in congress have always opposed any deployment or testing of SDI hardware, preferring (for reasons we find unfathomable) to leave the US naked to a ballistic missile attack. It is unlikely they would support such a test if it was openly acknowledged as such by the Administration. Further, it would be very hard for subsequent administrations to abandon a system which had proven its superiority to such an impressive extent.
We here at Enterprise always have a slightly different read on such mundane matters, of course. What caught our eye were not so much the real-world political implications of this technological muscle flexing, but rather the strange and ritualistic pattern under which it was being carried out.
Those of you who have read our current book, “Dark Mission – The Secret History of NASA,” are certainly aware of the constant repetition by that Agency of the ritual numbers “19.5” and “33.” As we repeatedly document in “Dark Mission,” over and over again we see these numbers inexplicably expressed in the landing site coordinates of innumerable NASA planetary missions, over the last half century; in the positions of certain key “ritual stars” over these planetary landing sites; and even in the timing of Cape Canaveral NASA launches, landings, and other key mission events – both manned and unmanned.
So we knew “something” interesting was happening, when we saw the location and time of the launch of the first SM-3 Missile.
Under the ideal circumstance, the launch will take place at 3:30 AM Universal time from somewhere very near 19.5 degrees latitude. In fact, in what senior military officials acknowledge is a highly unusual move, Defense Secretary Robert Gates will “just happen” to be in the area, in Hawaii, at the official Navy Command Center, at 19.5 degrees. And, in a most unusual command decision, the Secretary -- not the Captain of the Aegis cruiser Lake Erie -- will be the one giving the firing orders from the Hawaiian Command Center -- personally.
Oh and by the way -- all of this will be taking place during a total Lunar Eclipse.
Although we don’t yet know exactly what is going on here, we can say this:
There are just too many “Hyperdimensional coincidences” around this event for our comfort. While we don’t know what yet, we suspect something pretty spectacular is going to take place when and if the shoot down actually happens.
Stay Tuned.
Update 7:30 PM Pacific
We received this communication earlier this evening, from a source we’ll just call “very reliable.”
“Today [February 20, 2008], there were several escorted military caravans coming through Socorro [New Mexico]. I witnessed two of them: one at noon, the other about 2:45pm. They turned off I-25 at San Antonio for the Stallion Gate at White Sands. Many were trailers about the size of a semi-truck trailer, painted plain sand color, only a few with desert (Iraqi) camouflage. Quite a few of them were clearly large generators. Additionally, there were a few large diesel generators on flat bed trucks. Others had weird assortments of metal work, covered with tarp hinting at long metal poles and "Rohn tower" sections. A few other trailers had the appearance of a field command center thing, and a couple clearly communications trailers. Of course, everything had the 6-8 foot long whip antennas. I assume they were coming down from Kirtland in ABQ. Also, some flatbeds carrying 2 Hummers each, and other trailers carrying several smaller dune-buggy type vehicles, which I noticed said SCORPION on the back.
“The one I saw at 2:45pm pulled into the Lemitar truck stop. I followed. The military personnel, all in desert cammo gear, took turns entering the truck stop for refreshments ... that is, no vehicle was left unattended - one guy taking a turn, then the next. Several wore side arms, but they did not enter the store.
“I've seen military caravans through Socorro before, but never caravans of this size (or seriousness) since the landing of the space shuttle many years ago. Those did NOT enter White Sands at the Stallion (north) gate.
“There's always been local rumors how they built a massive laser weapon at White Sands, capable of taking something out of orbit. I know for a fact construction was begun as part of Reagan's star wars initiative, but supposedly 1/2 through construction, it was scrapped. Few around here believe that, and built at White Sands in conjunction with the GEODDS satellite tracking network (now called something else).
“There is a mysterious phenomenon at White Sands. Every few months, you will see MILES of strobe lights illuminated, running north-south (maybe 20-30 miles long) in two perfectly straight lines, maybe 20 miles apart. They illuminate these lights every few months late at night. They are not visible from I-25 (except a few miles around San Marcial), but very visible farther east of the Rio Grande, like along US 380. They blink in sequence running north to south, as if painting a huge runway. Some say it is to alert military pilots to stay out of the airspace when they are testing the laser weapon. Regardless, it is illuminated tonight, the first time I have seen it on since mid December.
“Sorry for rambling, but the point is, makes you wonder if some secret weapon at White Sands isn't being mobilized as a backup for tomorrow's shoot down.”
Of course, anyone who has read “Dark Mission” knows that the White Sands Missile Range is located at 33 degrees North latitude -- a ritual location of the same type outlined in our earlier post. It initially occurred to us that the missile test in Hawaii might be just a cover story for a real, covert weapons test … being conducted from White Sands. However, one look at the orbital plots told us that there was no way a laser or particle-type beam weapon could get a clean shot at USA-193 -- at least not on the current orbital trajectory, and in tonight’s “window.” They did have such a window several hours ago, but that has passed. And, it seems likely -- with everyone outside looking at the lunar eclipse -- somebody would have noticed if the satellite had been shot down already.
But, there is one other possibility – back in the early days of SDI, one of the proposals was to shoot a laser off of an orbiting mirror, giving such a weapon a true “over the horizon” capability. It is possible that such a system has been developed and deployed, and is awaiting its first functional test tonight?
We shall see.
Late Word: The NY Times is reporting that the missile successfully struck the satellite.
Update: Here is a link to a video of the USA-193 strike. Pretty impressive. -- MB
