Russia's anti-satellite test forced astronauts in space to take cover, and nations and space companies alike are speaking out about it.
The astronauts and cosmonauts were forced to take shelter in the spaceship they flew to the station. A cloud of space debris was threatening the station and its inhabitants. The Pentagon confirmed that the space debris was the result of a Russian anti-satellite test.
The test, which saw a missile destroy a Soviet satellite, has drawn criticism from nations around the world, including Japan, Australia and South Korea. The test was criticized by the U.S. government and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
The International Space Station could have been obliterated by Russia's missile test.
"Virgin Orbit joins the list of companies that have been affected by this kind of rattling in the space environment, which is a reminder that the space infrastructure we rely on for our economy, for science, and for national security is threatened by human aggression," Dan Hart said in a statement.
Russia's actions in space were brought up by the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. The organization, which represents the commercial spaceflight industry with over 90 member companies, condemns the deliberate destruction of satellites.
The nation's foreign ministry called the test "an irresponsible behavior that undermines sustainable and stable use of outer space," according to a statement.
Russia's test runs counter to the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, which was put together by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, and unanimously adopted by the member states of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Member states are required to avoid destroying space objects in the future in order to avoid creating space junk that will stay in the space station.
Japan's ministry called on the Government of Russia not to conduct this kind of test in the future.
The test was a provocative and dangerous act that demonstrated the threats to space systems are real, according to the same report.
The world increasingly relies on space for security, public safety, communications and commerce, according to a statement from the man. Russia's recent counter-space weapons testing, combined with this test, calls into question their sincerity in promoting security in space.
Australia's minister for foreign affairs said that Russia's actions are not those of a nation that is committed to ensuring the peaceful use of space.
South Korea's foreign ministry spoke out about the event. The ministry is concerned about the anti-satellite weapon test that took place in November and the debris it created in space, according to a report from SpaceNews. There is a need for all nations to act in a responsible manner in space to ensure peaceful and sustainable use of space, and work together to advance related international rules.
China has yet to make an official statement about the ASAT test. I don't think it's appropriate to make a comment at this time.
China was criticized for conducting an ASAT test in 2007.
The threat posed by anti-satellite weapons has grown since 2007, when China performed a similar test and created a debris field that is still being tracked today, according to Virgin Orbit.
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