The Russian Defense Ministry admits conducting a weapons test during which an old satellite was destroyed. – Unjustified, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Thousands of debris were scattered into orbit after a Russian test of a missile weapon against a satellite. The crew of the International Space Station is ready for evacuation.
The US is now highly critical of Russia after the test, which US authorities describe as dangerous and irresponsible.
Near-Earth eruptions create large amounts of so-called space debris, debris, and small fragments that move at a speed of about 27,000 kilometers per hour.
Monday’s explosion, according to US authorities, created more than 1,500 pieces of debris large enough to track, as well as countless smaller pieces. Each of them poses a threat to spacecraft and satellites.
– Destroy spy satellites
The Russian Defense Ministry admitted, on Tuesday, the destruction of an old satellite.
The Russian Ministry of Defense conducted a successful test, the result of which was the destruction of the Russian spacecraft Tselina-D, which has been in orbit since 1982, according to a public statement.
The message from the Moscow Ministry came shortly after a statement by the country’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, which was interpreted as denying the test.
In an interview with the press on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed concern about Russia’s recent activity in space.
The United States informed us about Russian anti-satellite tests that destroyed a satellite as part of the test. This caused debris, Stoltenberg said, and is now a danger to the International Space Station and the Chinese space station.
He stressed the importance of Europe and North America working closely together in strategic cooperation, and that all NATO countries contribute financially.
He brought up the topic of satellite photography when he spoke to the media before Meeting with EU foreign ministers.
Russia did this without justification as part of an exercise. NATO does not want weapons in space, but our satellites are very important. When Russia tests new space weapons, destroys other nations and leaves junk in space, it means the danger of civilian activity in space. It could destroy Earth’s critical infrastructure, such as warning systems, Stoltenberg said.
He stressed the importance of space activities for both civilian and military infrastructure, such as communications, navigation and early warning.
Lavrov: – Hypocrisy
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that the Russian test posed any threat to satellites and spacecraft.
“Declaring that the Russian Federation poses a danger to the peaceful use of space is hypocritical to say the least,” Lavrov said during a press conference in Moscow, adding that there was “no truth” behind the reports.
On Monday, NASA leader Bill Nelson said that Russia tested an anti-satellite weapon on one of its old satellites, and that the International Space Station crew was preparing to evacuate due to debris after the explosion.
The satellite appears to be an old Soviet-era spy satellite. BBC He refers to it as Kosmos-1408, which used to weigh more than a ton and was out of service many years ago.
LeoLabs, which tracks space debris and debris in space, has told the BBC that its radar system in New Zealand has recorded an amount of debris where a former Soviet-era satellite used to be.
In the lifeboat
What appeared to be debris from the satellite set off an alarm bell at the International Space Station (ISS), which currently has seven people on board. Two of them are Russian astronauts.
One of them, Pyotr Dobrov, told the Russian news agency TASS that the crew had to leave the space station twice on Monday and board the Crew Dragon, which serves as a lifeboat for the station. In the event of a collision, they can quickly return to Earth.
Head of NASA: – Incomprehensible
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that the International Space Station crew was awakened and directed to close the doors of some units on board.
Strongly reacts to testing weapons:
– I am outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing act. With its long and rich space history, says Nelson, it is incomprehensible that Russia is not only endangering American and international cosmonauts on the International Space Station, but also its own cosmonauts.
The crew had to quickly put on their spacesuits and prepare for evacuation. NASA says it’s tracking the debris cloud.
Space debris is already a major problem in the region where thousands of satellites operate.
According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the explosion of the Russian satellite may have increased the amount of debris in orbit by as much as 10 percent.
– There is no significant increase but it is worrying. We have a problem with room wreckage. So let’s not create more on purpose, says McDowell. Watchman.
According to him, there are 4,000 active satellites and up to 19,000 debris in the so-called low Earth orbit. The area covers an area from 200 to 2000 km above the Earth’s surface.
– Prioritizes security
Strongly reacts to testing weapons.
I am angry at this irresponsible and destabilizing act. Through its long and rich space history, astrophysicist McDowell says, it is incomprehensible that Russia is endangering not only American and international astronauts on the International Space Station, but also its own astronauts.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby The Pentagon replies that Russia did not warn the United States in advance of the test.
Russia’s Roscosmos, in turn, downplays the incident.
The orbit of the object that forced the crew to board the spacecraft according to standard procedure, moved away from the orbit of the International Space Station. The station is in the green, Organization tweets. In a message on Tuesday, they stressed that safety is a priority.
– Our main priority was and remains the unconditional safety of the crew, writes Roscosmos, who says they are monitoring the situation.
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