Pentagon: Russia Launched Likely Counter-Space Weapon In The Same Low-Earth Orbit As US Government Satellite
In 2021 Russia carried out an anti-satellite (ASAT) test on one of its own satellites and created thousands of pieces of dangerous space debris.
PENTAGON - Russia has launched a low-orbit satellite that the Department of Defense assesses is likely a counter-space weapon which it says it presumes has the purpose of attacking other satellites in low orbit around the earth.
Furthermore, the orbit of the device launched by Russia has been placed within the same orbit as a U.S. Government satellite, according to the Pentagon, which says it's currently monitoring the device.
Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said during a briefing, "we have a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the domain - the space domain and ensure continuous and uninterrupted support to the Joint and Combined Force.
And we'll continue to balance the need to protect our interests in space with our desire to preserve a stable and sustainable space environment."
Ryder said during the briefing, "What I'm tracking here is on May 16th, as you highlight, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we - that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit.
Russia deployed this new counter-space weapon into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite. And so assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counter-space payloads from 2019 and 2022. And so, you know, obviously that's something that we'll continue to monitor.
Certainly, we would say that we have a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the domain - the space domain and ensure continuous and uninterrupted support to the Joint and Combined Force. And we'll continue to balance the need to protect our interests in space with our desire to preserve a stable and sustainable space environment."
When Ryder was asked whether it posed a threat to the U.S. Government satellite right now, he replied and said, "Well, it's a counter-space weapon in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, so.."
When asked if the Pentagon knew there was a launch by Russia into space he said, "Typically when there - when there are launches into space, there are requirements in terms of notifications - international notifications, notifications to airmen, things like that.
So the question is did we have advanced notice of that launch? As it relates to payloads and - and what we know about and what we don't know about, i.e. intelligence, that - that is not something I can get into."
During a United Nations Security Council meeting on a resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outer space & outer space security, Robert Wood, U.S. representative in the UN, highlighted Russia's actions in space & how the U.S. will continue to demonstrate safe space activities.
During the meeting, he addressed the launch by Russia, saying that the United States will continue to put a "bright spotlight" on Russia's "troubling actions in space", and how the actions "diverge from its statements here in the Security Council".
He told the Security Council, "On March 16th Russia launched a satellite into low-earth orbit that the United States assesses is likely a counter-space weapon that is presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low-earth orbit.
Russia deployed this new counter-space weapon in the same orbit as a U.S. Government satellite. Russia's May 16 launch follows prior Russian satellite launches likely of counter-space systems into low-earth orbit in 2019 and 2022".
In 2021 Russia Conducted An Anti-Satellite Test Creating Thousands Of Pieces Of Space Debris. Pentagon: In The Last Few Years Counterspace Threats Have Increased Significantly:
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