Washington. November 16. INTERFAX - US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the United States and its allies will work out a joint response to the anti-satellite weapons test conducted by Russia on Monday.
"On November 15, 2021, the Russian Federation recklessly conducted destructive tests of an anti-satellite missile with direct launch into orbit against one of its satellites," Blinken said in a statement released by the State Department on Monday.
"The United States will work with our allies and partners to respond to this irresponsible act. We call on all responsible space powers to join us in efforts to develop norms of responsible behavior and refrain from conducting dangerous and irresponsible destructive tests like those conducted by Russia," the US Secretary of State said.
According to him, the test demonstrates that "Russia, despite its statements about opposing the deployment of weapons in outer space, is ready to jeopardize the long-term stability of outer space," as well as "the exploration and use of outer space by all countries."
He called Russia's behavior "reckless and irresponsible."
In addition, the US Secretary of State noted that more than 1.5 thousand units of orbital debris were received due to the test and, probably, hundreds of thousands more units of smaller orbital debris will be received.
"The long-lasting debris generated as a result of this dangerous and irresponsible test will now threaten satellites and other space objects that are vital to the security, economic and scientific interests of all countries for decades to come," Blinken stressed.
According to him, it will also "significantly increase the risk for astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station and for other activities related to human spaceflight."
He added that this test jeopardized "the safety and security of all entities seeking to explore and use outer space for peaceful purposes."
State Department spokesman Ned Price noted at a briefing that, according to the American side, the Russian test provided for the destruction of "one of its own satellites."
According to him, the Russian Federation conducted a test of a satellite interception missile with direct launch into orbit."
Price stressed that Russia had not warned the United States about the tests.
Moscow has not yet commented on the statement of the US State Department.
Earlier it was reported that the ISS crew took refuge in the Soyuz and Crew Dragon ships due to the threat of a collision with space debris. At the same time, NASA noted that the risk of a collision is "very small."
As the ISS crew reported, no signs of a collision with debris were recorded during the two approaches.
