U.S. Accuses Russia Of Generating Orbital Debris From 'Destructive' Satellite Test

US Accuses Russia of Generating Orbital Debris After 'Destructive' Satellite Test, Vows to Respond

Nevil Brown

The United States has accused the Russian Federation of conducting a "destructive satellite test" that could put astronauts, cosmonauts, and global satellite operations at risk. 

Through the U.S. State Department's spokesperson, Ned Price, it was revealed that the alleged test was conducted early Monday. Price went on to condemn the action, calling it "reckless."

The test was described as a "destructive satellite test of a direct ascent and anti-satellite missile against one of its own satellites."

According to Price, the test resulted in "over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of thousands of pieces of small orbital debris that now threaten the interests of all nations."

It is believed that the newly generated space debris could put the International Space Station and the astronauts and cosmonauts on board at risk. According to a New York Times report, a debris cloud forced astronauts on the ISS to dock in a spacecraft that could be used in an emergency to escape.

Seradata, a private company that analyzes space data, reported the incident early Monday morning through a tweet. About an hour after their first tweet, they suggested that it was an ASAT missile test.

The Russian Federation has yet to respond to the allegations.

Russia now plays havoc in space: Seven ISS astronauts are forced to take refuge in transport spaceships after Kremlin anti-satellite weapons test sends debris flying - as tensions with West reach fever pitch over Belarus migrant crisis

• The US is investigating a 'debris-generating event in space' after astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to prepare for a possible evacuation
• It came amid unconfirmed reports that Russia performed an anti-satellite weapon test 
• The space junk passes started early Monday, with the ISS making closes passes every 90 minutes 
• The tests have been criticized by the space community because of the risk they create for crews in low Earth orbit 
• NASA has not yet commented, but its Russian counterpart Roscomos, downplayed the incident 
• Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated in recent weeks as Kremlin has been accused of fomenting instability on Belarus-Poland border
• American officials have also grown alarmed over satellite images said to show a buildup of Russian military personnel along its frontier with Ukraine