Officials are “confident” the missile fired at USA 193 satellite has destroyed its hazardous fuel tank.

The US mission to intercept a dead satellite spiralling towards Earth has been deemed a success, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced today.

According to officials, debris analysis indicates that the fuel tank containing hazardous chemical hydrazine onboard USA 193 satellite has been destroyed. Had the satellite or its fuel tank re-entered the atmosphere intact, it could have posed a serious risk to humans.

Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed in a press statement: “By all accounts, this was a successful mission. From the debris analysis, we have a high degree of confidence the satellite’s fuel tank was destroyed and the hydrazine has been dissipated.”

On 21 February, the US Navy fired a missile from USS Lake Erie to intercept and destroy the satellite. According to DoD, much of the debris from the satellite has already re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere or will re-enter in the coming days and weeks.

The Joint Functional Component Command for Space at the Joint Space Operations Center, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Caliornia, is currently tracking around 3,000 pieces of debris, all smaller than a football, which have not yet re-entered the atmosphere.

To date, there have been no reports of debris landing on Earth, and it is unlikely any will remain intact to hit the ground, officials said.

By Natasha Piscitelli