Navy to shoot down a potentially hazardous satellite with anti - missile missiles . Pentagon official : The satellite alone costs almost $ 10 billion . Super - secret reconnaissance satellite malfunctioned just after launch , has full fuel tank . The Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie was chosen for the mission . Fuel tank likely to survive re - entry and disperse harmful , potentially deadly radiation .
Navy to shoot down a potentially hazardous satellite with anti - missile missiles . Pentagon official : The satellite alone costs almost $ 10 billion . Super - secret reconnaissance satellite malfunctioned just after launch , has full fuel tank . Fuel tank likely to survive re - entry and disperse harmful , potentially deadly radiation .