Task of shooting down satellite begins

This article talks about how the Navy is going to shoot down a dying spy satellite with a missile. The satellite hasn't been working since right after its launch in 2006. The satellite's fuel tank is full with 1,000 pounds of toxic Hydrazine that could be very dangerous if it crashes into earth. The goal is to destroy the satellite before March 1 because that is when it is predicted to hit the upper reaches of the atmosphere making it more difficult to hit the target. Scientists have pinpointed a specific time in which the shot will be taken causing the debri to fall mostly into water or onto less populated land posing less danger.
I think that this article was good and I do agree with it. The satellite has to be destroyed somehow, right? The only problem I had was the fact that there were no other options brought up or talked about. The focus of this article was only on the positive aspects of the mission. It didn't talk about how each missile costs millions of dollars to launch and who knows how many attempts are going to be made. Also, our position with other Nations on the matter were not brought up. Do these Nations agree or disagree? Is this going to cause conflict with other Nations? These were some of the questions I found myself asking while reading this article.


Task of Shooting Down Satellite Begins
By THOM SHANKER