McGuire team ready to chase satellite pieces

McGuire team ready to chase satellite pieces
By Rebecca Santana - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 22, 2008 9:43:25 EST

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. — With hazmat suits at the ready, a quick response team stood on alert Thursday to head anywhere on Earth that the pieces of a lame satellite shot down by the military might fall.

The recovery squad, dubbed Operation Burnt Frost, is made up of military and civilian personnel from at least 15 government agencies including the Air Force, Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency. The unit was assembled in less than a week with the goal of protecting people from remnants of the bus-sized satellite, especially the potentially hazardous fuel tank.

“This is an incredible effort,” said Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey C. Horne, who’s in charge of the team. “What we’re doing is to make sure that we’re ready as soon as we’re called.”

A Navy cruiser blasted the errant satellite with a missile Wednesday night. Officials said the strike appeared to have accomplished its main goal of exploding a tank of toxic fuel 130 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

Marine Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that it could be 24 to 48 hours before the military knows whether the tank was destroyed. He said the team was prepared to collect the debris and fuel tank if needed.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_satellite_mcguire_080222/