Satellite Shoot-Down (Score 1)

50 years ago, the Sputnik launch cost me my first job in the aviation industry, as the US suddenly noticed that getting a satellite into orbit was more important than refining bombers. Today, the problem seems to be getting them back out of orbit! Since the announcement of the successful destruction, I have been troubled by my inability to get the numbers to work! No matter how hard I try, the parameters for the SM-3 do not seem to allow that device to reach the USA-193 orbit (if the data posted on Wikipedia is anywhere near correct). The wording in the Pentagon press releases also struck me as extremely cautious, making me truly wonder: am I the only person on earth who doubts that this spectacular feat could even have been possible according to the laws of physics?