CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. State Department has blamed a Russian weapons test for creating dangerous conditions for astronauts onboard the International Space Station.
The storm of debris forced the seven astronauts onboard the ISS to take cover inside, and required them to open and close several compartments every 90 minutes, the Associated Press reported.
In a statement on Twitter, the U.S. State Department spokesperson said “Earlier today, the Russian Federation recklessly conducted a destructive satellite test of a direct ascent and anti-satellite missile against one of its own satellites. The test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller orbital debris that now threaten the interests of all nations”.
The U.S. State Department confirms and condemns that Russia conducted an anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) test in low Earth orbit.
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) November 15, 2021
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/2WIUuWV6Mh
There are currently four Americans, two Russians, and one German onboard the ISS. Four of the astronauts arrived on board the International Space Station Thursday as part of the Crew-3 mission.
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