Alliant major player in shot to destroy errant satellite

Updated: February 19, 2008 - 9:05 PM

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As a U.S. Navy Aegis cruiser fires a single missile at a malfunctioning spy satellite late tonight, an Allina rocket propulsion system and precision-guidance package will steer the missile toward the errant 5,000-pound satellite and strike it, breaking it apart.

The satellite, which was launched in 2006 and malfunctioned, will be about 150 miles from Earth when it is hit. If the strike is successful, much of the resulting debris is expected to burn up in the earth's atmosphere.

Edina-based Alliant, a subcontractor to Raytheon on the project, long has made guidance systems for intercepting missiles. However, this will be the first time that its technology has been used to take out a problematic satellite, officials said.

Alliant's technology, worth more than $1 million and made in Elkton, Md., will have been modified to help it better target the satellite, said Alliant spokesman Bryce Hallowell. The cost of the military's satellite strike is believed to be about $30 million.

Pentagon officials have said the satellite must be destroyed in space to prevent it from spiraling out of orbit and crashing to earth next month. The satellite is fueled by toxic hydrazine.

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