The US Navy has successfully struck a disabled spy satellite with a missile fired from a warship in waters west of Hawaii, military officials say. Operatives had only a 10-second window to hit the satellite which went out of control shortly after it was launched in December 2006. But it is not yet known how successful the operation was – the missile needed to pierce the bus-sized satellite’s fuel tank, containing more than 450kg (1,000lbs) of toxic hydrazine, which would otherwise be expected to survive re-entry. The Pentagon said confirmation that the fuel tank has been hit should be available within 24 hours.