UNCONTROLLED SATELLITE RE-ENTRY

UNCLAS STATE 011471 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING SENSITIVE CAPTION/PARA MARKINGS) SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA TSPL UNGA SUBJECT: UNCONTROLLED SATELLITE RE-ENTRY REF: A) UNVIE VIENNA 52 ¶1. (SBU) THIS IA AN ACTION CABLE. SEE PARA 2 BELOW. ¶2. (SBU) IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY (IAEA) THROUGH THE UN OFFICE OF OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS, MISSION IS REQUESTED TO DELIVER THE U.S. STATEMENT BELOW TO THESE OFFICES. BEGIN U.S. STATEMENT: THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IMPENDING RE-ENTRY OF A SATELLITE LAUNCHED INTO OUTER SPACE BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT: --THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND OTHER APPROPRIATE U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION. NUMEROUS SATELLITES OVER THE YEARS HAVE COME OUT OF ORBIT AND FALLEN HARMLESSLY. --THIS SATELLITE DOES NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR POWER SOURCE ON BOARD. --ANY ADDITIONAL INQUIRIES FROM GOVERNMENT OR INTERGOVENMENTAL ORGANIZATION REGARDING THIS MATTER SHOULD BE REFERRED TO MR. TIM KATSAPIS IN THE OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SIPDIS SECURITY AT 1(202) 647-0072, KATSAPISE@STATE.GOV, AND MR. RICHARD BUENNEKE IN THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION, 1 (202) 647-3731, BUENNEKER@STATE.GOV, WITH CC: TO MR. KENNETH HODGKINS AND MR. DAVID TURNER IN THE BUREAU OF OCEANS, ENVIRONMENT, AND SCIENCE AT 1 (202) 663-2398, HODGKINSKD@STATE.GOV, AND 1 (202) 663-2397, TURNERDA@STATE.GOV. END U.S. STATEMENT. RICE