Navy Ship Prepares to Shoot Down Spy Satellite

The US Navy will attempt to shoot down a rogue American spy satellite Thursday, just days before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere, reports CNN. Officials plan to bring down the satellite from an Aegis cruiser at sea while it is still 150 miles above the earth, leaving enough time for a second attempt if the first one fails.   

The 5,000 pound spy satellite was launched in December 2006 but immediately malfunctioned.  It carries enough toxic fuel to pose a hazard if it crashes to earth. "If we miss, nothing changes. If we shoot and get a direct hit, that's a clean kill and we're in good shape," said a NASA administrator. (More spy satellite stories.)