The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release concerning the Seafarers-crewed USNS Observation Island and USNS Guadalupe.MSC ships support Navy’s satellite interception
Two Military Sealift Command ships assisted in the U.S. Navy’s interception of a 5,000-pound, non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite over the Pacific Ocean last night.
MSC missile range instrumentation ship USNS Observation Island provided telemetry information. The ship, which can monitor objects in space, tracked the satellite and collected data on it both before and after the missile launch. Guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie launched the SM-3 missile to intercept the satellite.
A second MSC ship, fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe, sortied from San Diego to support the mission. Instead of conducting a two-week repair period, the ship was given short-notice tasking and got underway with enough fuel to replenish the other ships involved in the operation. Hours after the interception, Guadalupe provided about 50,000 gallons of fuel to Lake Erie and 45,000 gallons to guided missile destroyer USS Decatur.
In addition, three MSC fleet ocean tugs are standing by to recover debris.
“I’m proud that our MSC ships were able to support the intercept on such short notice,” said Capt. David Kiehl, commander of MSC’s Sealift Logistics Command Pacific.
In late January, the U.S. government notified other nations that the satellite was unresponsive and would make an uncontrolled reentry in late February or early March. President Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas. The Navy modified three SM-3 missiles to strike the satellite.
Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.
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