November 21, 2002 is likely to be remembered by the national security community not only as the day the U.S. Navy successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target in its "ascent" phase.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Get On With It: Time To Deploy Sea-Based Missile Defenses

The test, in which an Aegis ballistic missile cruiser shot down a target fired from Hawaii, was the first exo-atmospheric kinetic intercept of a ballistic missile in the ascent phase of flight, and the third intercept from an Aegis warship.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Sea change in missile defense

Authorities have argued that ballistic evidence shows Pistorius had to intentionally target the toilet to strike Steenkamp, and that evidence shows he was standing on his prosthetic legs when he shot through the bathroom door.

CNN: Lead investigator booted in Pistorius case

The Navy became interested in such defenses for its ships later, but in the 1950s there was no practical way for Russia to target U.S. warships at sea with ballistic missiles, so the sea service too had other priorities.

FORBES: Missile Defense Becomes A Navy Mission

The satellites would be launched like a ballistic missile from a jet, only instead of heading for a target, it would head into orbit.

FORBES: Move Over, Drones - Here Come Disposable Satellites

The proliferation of long-range strike systems, particularly ballistic and cruise missiles, could allow an aggressor to launch a surprise mass attack on these target sets.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Measure of a Superpower: A Two Major Regional Contingency Military for the 21st Century | Page: 3