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Dahlgren workers honored for role in satellite shoot-down Date published: 9/24/2008
By RUSTY DENNEN On Feb. 20, a missile fired from the USS Lake Erie destroyed a defunct U.S. spy satellite over the Pacific Ocean. That flash in the night sky was the culmination of six weeks of intense work at Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, a tenant command of the Naval Support Facility, Dahlgren. On Monday, the scientists, engineers and Navy personnel in King George County who made it possible got a pat on the back for their efforts. More than 30 people who worked on the "Operation Burnt Frost" project received awards for individual achievement. Other team and individual awards were also given out. Rear Adm. Alan B. Hicks, program director of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, praised their work, saying that downing the satellite in a six-week time period spoke volumes about their commitment to country, team and self and the successful work practices within the program. About 300 people work for the agency. Hitting the bus-size satellite, which was falling out of orbit after it failed following launch in December 2006, was critical because it contained 1,000 pounds of highly toxic hydrazine fuel. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is part of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency, which develops and tests ballistic missile defense systems. Aegis ships detect and track intercontinental ballistic missiles and report track data to the missile defense system. In this case, a Standard Missile-3 was used to down the satellite. That required collaboration among multiple agencies, from academia and industry to civilian labs and the military, said Christopher Taylor, spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency. Taylor said the short time frame made the project all the more impressive. "This whole group of people had to accomplish this mission in six weeks, period," he said. Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Date published: 9/24/2008
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