Russian military denies that destroyed satellite debris threatened International Space Station
A day after Pentagon spokesman John Kirby accused Russia of littering the space around Earth with hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris after testing a direct ascent anti-satellite weapon, Defense Ministry officials in Moscow have confirmed that a military test resulted in damage to one of Russia’s inoperative orbital spacecrafts. Russian officials say the incident involved its “Tselina-D” satellite, which the USSR launched back in 1982.
Update: Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu confirmed that Russia tested a “promising” anti-satellite system in a “surgical strike” against an old satellite. Shoigu also assured reporters that the satellite’s debris poses no danger to space activities.
Moscow told Kommersant that the planned test was designed to bolster Russia’s defense capability by limiting “the possibility of sudden harm to its national security in outer space and on land.”
On Monday, November 15, U.S. officials condemned Russia’s actions, calling Moscow’s behavior “dangerous and irresponsible” and warned that the test “jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of our space and clearly demonstrates that Russia’s claims of opposing the weapons and weaponization of space are disingenuous and hypocritical.”
The Russian military is now hurling the same allegations at the United States and denying that its test on Monday endangered the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. Russia’s Defense Ministry also renewed calls on the U.S. to develop “universal norms to guide the world community in the exploration of outer space.” Washington’s position is “hypocritical,” Russian officials argued, so long as it is official U.S. strategy to pursue “a comprehensive military advantage in space.”
Additionally, Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, told Kommersant that work aboard the International Space Station continued uninterrupted, apparently disputing reports that crew were instructed several times to take shelter against potential debris.
