Russia is testing a satellite shooting system

On Wednesday, Russia carried out another test of its missile system used to shoot down satellites from Earth's orbit. This is the tenth test of Russian ASAT technology. It is not yet known whether the launched missile has actually destroyed anything in orbit.

Regardless of what was the purpose of the test, the US space command openly condemned attempts to shoot objects in orbit.

Russia's anti-satellite system test is just another proof that the threat to US and allied satellite systems is real, serious, and growing, "said General John Raymond, USSPACECOM commander in a statement released yesterday. We are prepared and determined to repel any act of space aggression directed at us and threatening the interests of the United States and its allies.

An analysis by the Secure World Foundation indicates that Russia has been testing the anti-satellite weapon system (ASAT) since 2014. The system called Nudol consists of a vehicle on which a ballistic missile launcher capable of orbit is installed.

It is not known if Russia actually planned to shoot something down during the Wednesday test.

If so, then the closest was the old Russian Cosmos 1356 satellite. Data from LeoLabs tracking stations indicate that the satellite is still in orbit. It is worth noting here that so far Russia has not yet hit any target in orbit using the Nudol system.

This is the tenth attempt from what we know, and yet nothing in orbit has yet been destroyed, "says Brian Weeden, planning director at Secure World Foundation.

Carrying out the Nudol test is a demonstration of the country's strength to show potential enemies the ability to destroy enemy satellites. For this reason, every time one country carries out such a test, others condemn it.

This test is another proof of Russia's hypocrisy, which encourages refraining from the development of space weapons, which is supposed to limit the capabilities of the United States, while not interrupting its own work on such weapons - says General Raymond.

ASAT tests are the source of much of the space debris

The ASAT test is also criticized by the entire space exploration community. Each successful downing of a satellite from orbit leads to the formation of thousands of debris that can continue to orbit and pose a threat to other satellites, a space station or astronauts working in space for the next months and years.

United States outraged at Russia. So far, the Americans shot down the satellite, not Russia

Last year, India was outraged by other countries when they managed to destroy one of their own satellites in orbit. As part of the Shakti mission, over 400 new space debris was created. India argued that it had shot down a satellite in relatively low orbit and the resulting debris would burn quickly in the Earth's atmosphere. However, four months after shooting down, several dozen fragments were still in orbit.

India is no exception. In addition to them, China and the US also shot down satellites in orbit. In 2007, with a missile launched from the ground, China shot down its weather satellite, turning it into over 3000 shards, some of which remained in orbit for many years.

A year later, in 2008, as part of Operation Burnt Frost, the Americans shot down one of their satellites explaining their act by the fact that the satellite aboard had toxic hydrazine, which could be dangerous if some debris of the satellite reached the Earth's surface after entering the atmosphere.

Russia has not yet commented on the statement of the US Space Command.

Russia is testing a satellite shooting system