USA193

USA-193 is a United States reconnaissance satellite operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Designated as USA-193, it was part of the U.S. government's space-based intelligence system and operated in low Earth orbit. Details of its mission and payload are classified.

In February 2008, during Operation Burnt Frost, the satellite was destroyed by a U.S. Navy missile intercept using an SM-3 launched from the cruiser USS Lake Champlain. The goal, according to U.S. officials, was to prevent potential release of toxic fuel in the event of uncontrolled reentry.

The destruction produced debris tracked by space-surveillance networks, and several fragments remained in orbit for months before reentering.

The incident prompted international debate about the militarization of space, the safety of space activities, and debris mitigation, with critics arguing that it set a precedent for U.S. anti-satellite actions.

While the satellite's specific mission remains classified, USA-193 is widely cited as one of the most visible cases of a state destroying its own satellite to prevent a potential hazard.