[ad_1]
United States space personnel (SPACECOM) said in a statement that they “would have evidence” that Moscow had “carried out a non-destructive test of an anti-satellite weapon on July 15.”
“Last week’s test is another example of the real, serious and growing threat to the US and allied space systems,” the report said.
“Of course, this is not unacceptable,” Marshall Billingslea, an American nuclear disarmament negotiator, wrote on Twitter. He added that this “important issue” will be discussed next week in one of the negotiations on a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
This agreement limits the number of nuclear warheads allowed in the US and Russia.
At the time, Russia on Friday rejected reports by the United States and the United Kingdom about an anti-satellite weapon allegedly tested in space.
“We urge our American and British colleagues to demonstrate professionalism and sit at the negotiating table instead of some propaganda information attacks and undertake serious and meaningful work,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Moscow has accused Western powers of keeping silent about their own military space programs, including plans to potentially use “satellite inspectors” and “satellite repairers” as anti-satellite tools.
The report by the Foreign Ministry said that the test carried out by the Russian Defense Ministry on July 15 “did not pose a threat to other space objects and, above all, did not violate any norm and principle of international law.” The Foreign Ministry cited information from the Russian Army that a “satellite inspector” released by them had closely inspected a Russian spacecraft using a small spacecraft with specialized equipment.
“As a result, valuable information was received on the technical condition of the inspected facility, which was passed on to management services on Earth,” the report said.
Speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump expressed hope of avoiding an “expensive” arms race with Russia and China.
According to the Americans, a test conducted by Russia last week used the same system that SPACECOM raised concerns earlier this year when the machine approached a U.S. government satellite, Chief of Space Staff said, Jay Raymond.
“This is further proof that Russia continues its efforts to develop and test space-based systems, as well as to use weapons that endanger American and allied objects in space, in line with the Kremlin’s military doctrine. Raymond said in a statement.
SPACECOM added that the recent maneuvers by the Russian satellites are another example that the purpose of these devices “does not correspond to their declared mission” .ms control.
The announcement came as China launched its first Martian march on Thursday, marking a new stage for Beijing to compete with Washington in space exploration.
[ad_2]
