Yes, I know the back story behind the Navy's plan to shoot down a wayward spy satellite starting Wednesday night. I understand why critics are claiming that this is a thinly-veiled attempt to test our missile defense system in action. And sure, I know that there's no guarantee the missile will hit its target, or if it misses, that the satellite would even hit land.
But still ... America is gonna shoot down a satellite. In space. With a missile launched from a cruiser in the Pacific Ocean.
That. Is. So. Kick. Ass.
This is like "Deep Impact" in action, though I hope this plan is a little more successful. It reminds me of a video game I played on Intellivision. It's like an episode of "Star Trek."
I only hope we see some video of this mission. Since the government is going out of its way to claim this is a one-off plan, that the rushed-to-market technology will be scrapped once this satellite comes crashing to Earth, it sure would be nice if they could get a little camera in the cone of that SM-3 warhead. They can do that, can't they?
I mean, they're shooting down a satellite. In space. With a missile.
The Pentagon's press secretary says this operation will cost between $30 and $40 million. China and Russia aren't pleased, though China should probably pipe down, since it did the same thing last year with less than spectacular results.
But considering half of the 5,000-pound, bus-sized satellite would hit Earth somewhere, if we don't shoot it down, it's probably a good idea to give this plan a whirl.
You know I love a good conspiracy theory, and I wouldn't put it past our government to take this unique opportunity to test its missile defense system while the rest of the world sits idly by.
But let's just put that aside right now. We're gonna shoot down a satellite. In space. And it's gonna totally kick-ass.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
