A Russian anti-satellite test causes thousands of pieces of space junk – threatening the International Space Station.
Exceptional situation for the astronauts: Inside on board the International Space Station ISS: Because space debris appeared in the orbit of the space station, the space travelers – among them the German Matthias Maurer – had to retreat into their space capsules on Monday (November 15, 2021) to avoid the To be able to leave the ISS quickly in an emergency. It is a routine case, but it does not happen very often. But this time the situation is different than most of the times: It is not a piece of space junk, but rather a whole “cloud” of particles that could endanger the ISS.
As the US State Department announced on Monday, it is assumed that Russia has destroyed an old Russian satellite in a so-called “anti-satellite test” (ASAT) with a ground-based rocket. Thousands of fragments were created in the process, which had spread in Earth orbit. At least 1500 traceable scrap pieces were created in this event, in addition there would be “many thousands of smaller parts that cannot be tracked,” said Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department.
Russia destroys satellites, space debris threatens the ISS
“This test will significantly increase the risk for astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station and also for other human space activities,” Price told journalists. The “dangerous and irresponsible behavior” of Russia jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of space and shows clearly that “Russia’s claims to oppose the armament of space are insincere and hypocritical,” Price continued.
The ISS flew through the cloud of space debris for the first time on the morning of November 15, shortly after 8 a.m. Since then, the flights through the junk cloud should take place about every 93 minutes, as the astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell reports on Twitter.
Space: Thousands of pieces of space junk in Earth orbit
Things orbiting the earth in low earth orbit move at a speed of around 28,100 kilometers per hour. Even small pieces of scrap hitting a satellite that is also moving around the earth at 28,100 km / h can cause great damage.
It is not the first time Russia has conducted an anti-satellite test. In 2020, the US Space Command reported two Russian ASAT tests, but neither of them apparently hit any targets in space. In 2007, an ASAT test carried out by the People’s Republic of China resulted in thousands of junk particles in earth orbit, some of which are still orbiting the earth. Just last week, the ISS had to raise its orbit to avoid one of these dangerous projectiles.
International space station ISS in alarm condition
While the astronauts on the International Space Station are initially still in a state of alarm and have to reckon with flights through the junk cloud, the US State Department strongly condemns the Russian test and speaks of a “dangerous, ruthless and irresponsible” test . It is still unclear whether there will be an American answer and what it will look like. “We will work with our allies and partners to make it clear that the US and the international community will not tolerate this type of irresponsible behavior,” Price said.
In the meantime, Defense Minister Ben Wallace from Great Britain has also commented on the Russian anti-satellite test: “This destructive Russian test shows a complete disregard for the safety and sustainability of space,” said Wallace. “The scrap that results from the test will stay in orbit and will pose a risk to satellites and human space travel for years.” (Tab)
