United States' antisatellite mission intended to eliminate potential toxicity

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Sometime within the next two weeks, the United States will conduct its first public anti-satellite mission.

The target is USA 193, a reconnaissance satellite that failed shortly after its launch in Dec. 2006.

Its deteriorating orbit has doomed it to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. Pieces of space debris are often destroyed in the atmosphere and produce nothing more than a harmless light show for stargazers.

What makes USA 193 different is its unutilized hydrazine fuel supply, which could be toxic if spread over a populated area. In order to prevent this situation, the United States government has decided to destroy the satellite with a sea-launched missile.

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