In the world of international space travel, a dispute has arisen over a test with an anti-satellite weapon by Russia. The US government, space agency NASA and NATO say the International Space Station and other space missions are in danger as a result. Russia says that there was little going on and states that America itself knows better.
The riot revolves around the dismantling of the Russian satellite Zelina-D. It had been in space since 1982. Russia has since confirmed that the Zelina-D was destroyed in space with a rocket. The defense ministry in Moscow says the debris has not and will not pose a threat to other satellites or space stations.
America sees it differently. The US Army’s Space Command says the weapons test has resulted in a cloud of more than 1,500 pieces of space debris, which can break down into hundreds of thousands of tiny particles and remain in orbit for years. According to the Space Command, that poses a significant risk to the crew of the ISS and other manned space missions.
28,000 km/h
The ISS orbits the Earth at 28,000 kilometers per hour; at that speed, one tiny particle can cause major damage. NASA Director Nelson says astronauts on the ISS are now four times more at risk than before the Russian action.
US Secretary of State Blinken calls the test with the anti-satellite weapon reckless and irresponsible. NATO chief Stoltenberg also used the word recklessly. The Russian foreign minister Lavrov thinks this is hypocritical; According to him, America itself is fueling an arms race in space.
shutters closed
Shortly after the destruction of the Zelina-D, the seven crew members of the ISS had to transfer to special capsules, which they could use to leave immediately in the event of a calamity. After a few hours they were able to leave it again.
The seven astronauts have been ordered to close shutters to some parts of the ISS as a precaution. The space station passes through the debris area every hour and a half.
The Russian news agency Tass reports that the leadership of space agency Roskosmos will speak with their NASA colleagues later today. That meeting would have already been on the agenda.
Space debris problem
The ISS had to dodge space debris three times last year. The then NASA director said: that the problem of space debris is getting bigger. NASA tracks some 22,000 objects larger than 10 centimeters; of these, only 1000 are actually in use as satellites. The number of objects with a diameter of 1 to 10 centimeters is estimated by NASA at half a million. Initiatives are underway to clear up space debris.
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