Spy satellite nuclear powered - no solid rockets (Score 1)

Yeah, we shot this down to destroy a few pounds of solid rocket booster waste, that can damage your kidneys ...after 10 years.... riiiiight, There are two reasons why this was really done: One is that is contained a plutonium based propulsion system, and should that fall into the hands of terrorists.. well you get the picture.. Since when has the US government cared about a little danger to its citizens? Note the nuclear test in the four corners area of the states. Spy satellites are put in orbit to last years and years - this can (and has been) accomplished using a nuclear power source. Google it and see just how many nuke powered orbiters we have. The other is that China recently conducted such an operation by destroying one of its own satellites from Earth (2007) to test a space missile system. However, that move created a cloud of fragments and other satellites had to be manoeuvred into new orbits to avoid being hit by the debris. We would definately want to show them we could do the same (or better) - as any future world wars would have everyone shooting down everyones satellites...etc