© NASA
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The United States has strongly condemned Russia over reports that a missile test blew up an old Soviet-era satellite and scattered more than 1,500 traceable debris and hundreds of thousands of smaller ones.
Because of them, the crew of the International Space Station had to prepare for an emergency evacuation.
The Russian space agency Roscosmos did not confirm the test in its message, but did not deny it.
She belittle what happened, announcing that the space debris had separated from the orbit of the ISS and everyone was safe. However, according to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Pentagon, the test endangered the seven people on board – four Americans, a German and two Russians. Later appeared and message, according to which the safety of those on board the ISS is a priority.
Tests on anti-satellite missiles
Such a test of anti-satellite missiles (as other countries such as the United States, India and China have) creates a veritable sea of uncontrollable debris, some of which will be a challenge as the space industry of the future unfolds. They can also cause irreparable damage to satellites that are important for communications or research. And now the number of pieces of space debris in different orbits around the Earth is probably six digits.
“Cosmos-1408” – the device that according to American and Russian media was blown up – is a spy satellite launched in 1982. It weighs about a ton and has not worked for years. Data from this device also speak of an attack against this device LeoLabs, a private company that tracks space objects. According to her, they were detected in the area of the alleged location of “Cosmos-1408”.
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The standard precautionary procedure in such situations involves closing the hatches between the modules – as happened yesterday – immediately entering the capsules that brought them on board, which are docked just to save them in an emergency.
There was a similar test in 2007. It was performed by China, and the explosion produced nearly 2,000 tracks that can be traced.
Reactions
“Earlier today, Russia conducted an irresponsible destructive test with an anti-satellite missile flying directly against one of its own satellites,” said US State Department spokesman Ned Price. He described Moscow’s behavior as dangerous and irresponsible.
The crew of the International Space Station regularly performs work in accordance with the flight program.
The orbit of the object, due to which the crew was forced today according to standard procedures to transfer to spaceships, moved away from the ISS orbit. The station is in the “green zone” pic.twitter.com/nGk3x7nvhc
– ROSCOSMOS (@roscosmos) November 15, 2021
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According to him, the United States will not tolerate such activities that threaten the “interests of all countries.”
The head of OUR Bill Nelson expressed outrage at Russia’s rocket launch against one of its own satellites. “It is unthinkable for Russia to threaten not only American astronauts and international partners on the ISS, but also its own astronauts,” Nelson said in a statement. “I am scandalized by this irresponsible and destabilizing action.”
US Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said the test “shows an absolute disregard for the security, safety and resilience of space.” He said the wreckage would put satellites and manned flights at risk for years to come.
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