On Monday night, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke about the flood of space debris that prompted mission control on the International Space Station (ISS) to order astronauts to shelter in their returning ships for a few hours. the morning.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson blames the Russian anti-satellite test for space debris that disrupted the day on the ISS. Image: Gary Daines – NASA
Through US State Department spokesman Ned Price, the US government revealed yesterday afternoon that Russia had conducted an anti-satellite test that generated a lot of space debris, a move considered “reckless ”, in the words of Price.
“This test will significantly increase the risk to astronauts and cosmonauts on the ISS, as well as other manned spaceflight activities,” Price added.
NASA, in turn, had yet to officially blame Russian action for what had happened to the astronauts on the ISS. Later, however, Nelson was adamant, showing himself quite irritated by the fact.
“Earlier today, due to debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite Test (ASAT), ISS astronauts and cosmonauts performed emergency procedures for safety,” Nelson said in a statement. press release from the US space agency. “I am outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action. With its long and rich history in manned spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only American and international ISS partner astronauts, but also its own cosmonauts.
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Space debris allegedly caused by Russia also endangers taikonauts
Nelson didn’t stop there, also accusing Russia of endangering the safety of astronauts outside the ISS. “Their actions are reckless and dangerous, also threatening the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board.”
In addition to the seven people currently living and working on the ISSl – two Russian cosmonauts, three NASA astronauts, one from the European Space Agency (ESA) and one from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) – he are three crew members aboard the Tiangong space station.
According to Price, the anti-satellite test created more than 1,500 traceable space fragments and hundreds of thousands of smaller, undetectable fragments in low Earth orbit.
According to the Space site, this wreckage not only threatens the safety of the crews of the space station (international and Chinese), but can also damage or destroy satellites in Earth orbit in the event of a collision – which would further increase the amount of damage. Space waste that satellites and other space missions will have to avoid in the future.
“All countries have a responsibility to prevent the intentional creation of space debris from ASATs and to promote a safe and sustainable space environment,” Nelson added, assuring that “NASA will continue to monitor the wreckage in the coming days. and beyond to ensure safety”. of the spacecraft.” crew in orbit”.