The USS Lake Erie (CG 70) launches a Standard Missile-3 at a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 20, 2008. The objective was to rupture the satellite's fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous material which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth's atmosphere. The USS Lake Erie is an Aegis guided missile cruiser. USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Russell (DDG 59) were also part of the task force. (US Navy photo) [Click to enlarge]

A single modified tactical Navy Standard Missile-3 was launched from the Navy's USS Lake Erie last Wednesday in an attempt to take down an errant satellite before it entered Earth's atmosphere.

According to Wayne Hawkins, Arnold Engineering Development Center plans and programs directorate engineer, the center has been testing numerous variants and upgrades of the missile since its original design in the late 1960s.

"This has been one of the most thoroughly tested missile systems on the ground and in flight that's ever been developed, including numerous variants of this system we've tested here," Hawkins said.

The spy satellite could have crashed into Earth and possibly released a cloud of toxic gas. The satellite, approximately 247 kilometers over the Pacific Ocean, traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph.

According to the Department of Defense, nearly all of the debris burned up on re-entry within 24-48 hours.

The remaining debris should re-enter within 30 days. Navy gunners had just a 10-second window to fire, and officials had said they might not be able to take their shot on the first opportunity.

Officials say the satellite would have fallen to Earth on its own in early March. It malfunctioned immediately after it was launched in December 2006. It had a full tank, about 1,000 pounds of frozen, toxic hydrazine propellant.

"Seeing the missile in the news is almost like watching your own child," said Sherry Simons, a senior technical specialist in AEDC's von Kaman Gas Dynamics Facility. "I said 'way to go, baby.'"

She was the project engineer assigned to the last flight simulation testing conducted on the Navy Standard Missile in VKF Tunnel A in 1994 and 1996-97.

"I've been testing this missile for at least 40 years if not more," she said. "Whether it's extending the range of the missile or improving its stability and control capabilities, the Naval Standard Missile comes here to our wind tunnels so the customer can to collect data for their massive database.:

Simons said the missile is back at AEDC to fulfill a different role.

"Currently, we are using the Navy Standard Missile to check out and validate the new Tunnel A Pitch/Inject system which is an upgrade that has been in progress for about two years," she said.