Video need to know: expert opinion on the satellite operation

The United States provided dramatic proof of its capability to destroy an object in space when a US navy missile scored a direct hit on an American satellite falling out of control.

Missile experts said that the Standard SM-3 weapon, fired from the USS Lake Erie, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, took about three minutes to reach the satellite 150 miles (240km) up in the sky, flew above it and then descended before impact at a closing speed of 22,000mph to ensure that the debris was forced down to Earth.

When the Chinese carried out an anti-satellite missile test in January last year, thousands of pieces of debris remained in space.

The Pentagon said that most of the debris would burn up in the atmosphere and officials were confident that the hit destroyed the tank full of toxic hydrazine — the intended point of impact of the missile — although confirmation that the fuel tank disintegrated will not be possible for 24 hours.

While the Pentagon celebrated its $30million (£15 million) Star Wars-style interception in space, China reacted coolly, accusing Washington of hypocrisy in its criticisms of other countries' ambitions, a reference to last year's American denunciation of the Chinese rocket attack on one of its ageing satellites.

However, the American plan to destroy the faulty 2,270kg (5,000lb) satellite — which was roughly the size of a school bus — had been broadcast by President Bush as a safety measure to ensure that it did not fall on an urban area.

Liu Jianchao, the Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing, said: “The Chinese side is continuing to closely follow the US action which may influence the security of outer space and may harm other countries.”

His words were modulated carefully to echo criticisms levelled at Beijing by the Bush Administration and several other countries after China took the world by surprise in January last year by using a missile to shoot down one of its old satellites.

The move, unannounced in advance, was interpreted widely as a statement of China's ability to knock out the satellites of its foes if need be.

Mr Liu said: “China further requests that the US fulfil its international obligations in earnest and promptly provide to the international community the necessary information ... so that relevant countries can take precautions.”

Duncan Lennox, editor of Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, said that the missile had to be modified for the operation. “The SM-3 was designed to hit incoming ballistic-missile warheads travelling towards the Earth, whereas the satellite was flying in orbit at a constant height, although slowly falling. The satellite was also much bigger than the kill vehicle of a ballistic missile, which is only 23 kilos in weight and 0.61 of a metre [about 2ft] in length,” he said.

The SM-3 had previously completed 12 successful hits of dummy ballistic missiles — with two failures — in America's so-called Son of Star Wars programme, aimed at providing an anti-missile capability for the US. Authority for the hit was given by Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, who was en route to Hawaii.

He took a conference call during his flight with Air Force General Kevin Chilton, head of US Strategic Command, and Marine General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “They told him that the conditions were ripe for an attempt, and that is when the Secretary gave the go-ahead to take the shot,” Geoff Morrell, his press spokesman, said.

The US organised hazardous materials teams, under an operation codenamed Burnt Frost, to be flown to the site of any debris landing in America or elsewhere.

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