IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1004 
Expressing sincere congratulations to the United States Navy and the Depart-
ment of Defense for successfully intercepting the disabled National Re-
connaissance Office satellite, NROL–21, on February 20, 2008. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2008 
Mr. ROHRABACHER (for himself and Mr. HUNTER) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing sincere congratulations to the United States Navy 
and the Department of Defense for successfully inter-
cepting the disabled National Reconnaissance Office sat-
ellite, NROL–21, on February 20, 2008. 
Whereas the National Reconnaissance Office satellite, 
NROL–21, was launched on December 14, 2006, into 
low-earth orbit; 
Whereas the satellite lost power and ceased communication 
with ground controllers soon after reaching orbit; 
Whereas the satellite could no longer make a safe re-entry 
into earth’s atmosphere because of its loss of power; 
Whereas about half of the satellite, roughly 2,800 pounds, 
would have survived re-entry, including a 1,000-pound 
hydrazine fuel tank; 
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•HRES 1004 IH 
Whereas hydrazine is a highly toxic substance and a risk to 
human health and safety; 
Whereas there was an approximately one-in-four chance of 
the satellite, including the hydrazine tank, hitting land 
upon re-entry, dispersing toxic hydrazine, and risking 
human exposure; 
Whereas the Department of Defense, being charged with the 
protection of the citizens of the United States, executed 
a technically challenging mission to intercept the satellite 
with the United States missile defense system and de-
crease the risk it posed to United States citizens and 
other inhabitants around the world; 
Whereas the Department of Defense was transparent in com-
municating its plans and intent to the Congress, the 
American people, and, working with the Department of 
State, the broader international community; 
Whereas a Navy cruiser, USS Lake Erie, accompanied by 
two destroyers, the USS Decatur and the USS Russell, 
fired a Standard Missile-3 toward the satellite; and 
Whereas the missile successfully intercepted the satellite 
while traveling through space at more than 17,000 miles 
per hour, breaking the satellite, including the hydrazine 
tank, into pieces to safely burn up in the atmosphere: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) the House of Representatives expresses sin-
cere congratulations to the Department of Defense, 
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, the Depart-
ment of the Navy, and the crews of the USS Lake 
Erie, the USS Decatur, and the USS Russell, for 
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•HRES 1004 IH 
successfully intercepting the disabled National Re-
connaissance Office satellite, NROL–21, on Feb-
ruary 20, 2008; and 
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that this accomplishment safeguarded United 
States citizens and inhabitants around the world 
from potential harm. 
Æ 
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