Attempt to shoot down spy satellite to cost up to $60 million

Jamie McIntyre
CNN
February 15, 2008

The attempt by the U.S. Navy to use an anti-missile missile to shoot down a potentially hazardous satellite will cost between $40 million and $60 million, Pentagon officials told CNN on Friday.

The missile alone costs almost $10 million, Lt. Gen. Carter Ham said at a Pentagon briefing. He declined to give an overall cost estimate.

“I think we’re working with all the parties to [find] how much did it cost to modify the missiles, the fire control, that kind of business,” he said.

Pentagon officials argue the effort is worth the expense because of the slim — but real — chance that the satellite’s unused fuel, 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine, could land in a populated area.

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This article was posted: Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 8:40 am

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