There was one less inactive satellite in Earth orbit and one and a half thousand more debris. Yesterday, on November 16, the TASS news agency, referring to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, reported on tests during which an inactive Soviet spacecraft was successfully hit.
The press service of the US Space Command was the first to report on the events in space. According to the Americans, a spacecraft collapsed in low Earth orbit. The result was the formation of a cloud of fragments. Also, the press service of the State Department indicated that the destruction of the satellite is the result of Russia's testing of anti-satellite weapons.
Simulation of the movement of space debris after the destruction of the Tselina-D satellite
Image source: twitter.com/HiveNorss
As it was found out later, the Kosmos-1408 satellite ("Tselina-D"), launched in 1982, was hit as part of tests by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The satellite was in orbit at a height of 400-500 km, and when it was destroyed, more than 1,500 fragments were formed. It is also reported that on November 15, the ISS crew had to switch to spaceships due to space debris. The dangerous object passed the station twice with an interval of an hour and a half.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the wreckage does not pose a danger and has been taken under surveillance and escort. In addition, the Russian military department indicated that "the main goal of the new US space strategy is to create a comprehensive military advantage in space, therefore, the Russian Defense Ministry is carrying out planned activities to strengthen its defense capability."
