The Ministry of Defense of Russia tested the anti-satellite system by shooting down the inactive Soviet space satellite Tselina-D, which had been in orbit since 1982. The United States promised to respond to Russia's actions, since the debris of the satellite will continue to pose a threat to space activities for many years to come.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on November 16 that Washington and its allies will respond to Russia's anti-satellite missile tests, which have threatened everyone who is trying to explore or explore space for peaceful purposes.
According to the Secretary of State, on November 15, Russia "recklessly conducted destructive tests of an anti-satellite missile with a direct launch into orbit against one of its satellites." As a result of these actions, he noted, more than 1,5 thousand appeared in outer space. fragments
There will also be "hundreds of thousands of smaller orbital fragments," Blinken said. He emphasized that this space debris "will threaten satellites and other spacecraft vital to the security, economy, and scientific interests of all countries for the next ten years."
"In addition, the debris will significantly increase the risk to astronauts and cosmonauts on board the ISS and to other activities related to manned space flights," Blinken noted, adding that these tests irresponsibly endangered the work of peaceful space explorers.
The Pentagon said that the anti-satellite weapon developed by Russia threatens the United States, and noted that the world needs common rules for the development of near-Earth space.
At the same time, the Russian agency called the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation "hypocritical". They said that for several years Russia has been urging the United States and other space powers to sign an agreement on the prevention of weapons placement in space. The draft of this treaty was submitted to the UN, but the US and its allies are blocking the adoption of the document.
The statement also emphasizes that the resulting fragments "did not and will not pose a threat to orbital stations, spacecraft and space activities." They are included in the catalog of the Russian space control system and will be accompanied until they cease to exist, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation indicated.
In addition, Moscow pointed to the adoption by the United States in 2020 of a new space strategy, one of the main goals of which is to "create a comprehensive military advantage in space."
The agency also noted that similar tests were previously conducted by the USA, China and India. In 2007, China launched a missile attack on one of its old meteorological satellites. Then, as a result of the test, approximately 2,3 thousand fragments appeared.
Moreover, in 2008, the USA conducted its own tests of anti-satellite weapons, and then an orbital cloud of approximately 400 pieces of debris was formed. In 2019, India tested its weapons, creating approximately the same amount of garbage.
