AF General: Spy Satellite Could Hit USWednesday January 30, 2008 12:46 AM
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. military is developing
contingency plans to deal with the possibility that
a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in
late February or early March could hit North America.
Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S.
Northern Command, told The Associated Press on
Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests
that some number of pieces will not burn up as the
orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere
and will hit the ground.
“We're aware that this satellite is out there,”
Renuart said. “We're aware it is a fairly substantial
size. And we know there is at least some percentage
that it could land on ground as opposed to in the
water.”
-snip-Renuart added that, “As it looks like it might re-
enter into the North American area,” then the U.S.
military along with the Homeland Security Department
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will
either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian
or Mexican authorities.
-snip-