WASHINGTON (AP) -- A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power
and propulsion and could hit the Earth in late February or March,
government officials said Saturday.
A senior government official says lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation.
The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain
hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might
come down, they said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.
"Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
"Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen
harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any
possible damage this satellite may cause." 
Watch why the bus-sized satellite is causing concern »
He would not comment on whether it is possible for the satellite to be
perhaps shot down by a missile. He said it would be inappropriate to
discuss any specifics at this time.
A senior government official said that lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation.
The largest uncontrolled re-entry by a NASA spacecraft was Skylab, the 78-ton abandoned space
station that fell from orbit in 1979. Its debris dropped harmlessly
into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia.
In 2000, NASA
engineers successfully directed a safe de-orbit of the 17-ton Compton
Gamma Ray Observatory, using rockets aboard the satellite to bring it
down in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
In 2002, officials
believe debris from a 7,000-pound science satellite smacked into the
Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few
thousand miles from where they first predicted it would plummet.
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