WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said Thursday it plans to shoot down a defunct spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March, agencies reported.

    An option on the table is to use a sea-based missile to do the job, before the satellite falls into the Earth's atmosphere, Pentagon officials told reporters.

    Last month, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council said a defunct U.S. spy satellite is falling from orbit and could hit the Earth in late February or March.

    The satellite, which has lost power and propulsion, could contain hazardous materials, he said.

    Because the satellite could not be controlled any longer, it is unknown where the Earth it might hit.

    In 1979, Skylab, a 78-ton abandoned NASA space station fell from orbit in an uncontrolled manner.

    Its debris eventually dropped into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia harmlessly.