MAJOR WILBERT D. "DOUG" PEARSON - FIRST PILOT TO SHOOT DOWN A SATELLITE

On September 13, 1985, Major Wilbert D. “Doug” Pearson became the first pilot to shoot down a satellite. Major Pearson, flying the “Celestial Eagle” F-15A, launched an ASM-135 ASAT about 200 miles west of Vandenberg Air Force Base and destroyed the Solwind P78-1 satellite flying at an altitude of 345 miles. Prior to the launch the F-15 flying at Mach 1.22 executed a 3.8g zoom climb at an angle of 65 degrees. The ASM-13 ASA was automatically launched at 38,100 feet while the F-15 was flying at Mach .934. The 30 pound MHV collided with the 2,000 pound Solwind P78-1 satellite at a closing velocity of 15,000 mph.

An F-15 Eagle launches the ASM-135 during the final test, which destroyed the Solwind P78-1 satellite