The United States has become the first country to make such a pledge. (file)
Washington:
The United States announced a commitment to halt testing of anti-satellite missiles that produce dangerous debris in space, a measure described Tuesday by the head of NASA as “an important step.”
The United States, the first country to make such a pledge, encouraged other countries to follow its lead, with the goal of setting “a new international benchmark for responsible behavior in space,” the White House said in a statement. has done.
“This is especially important as the number of states and non-governmental entities continues to grow that rely on space services and space assets that are vulnerable to debris.”
The announcement comes five months after Russia destroyed one of its own satellites in a missile test that created a cloud of debris and forced seven crew on the International Space Station to temporarily take shelter in their return ships. Compelled to.
Washington called the strike “dangerous and irresponsible”.
Russia and the United States are among a handful of countries that have high-tech anti-satellite weapons known as ASATs. Missiles have also been used by China and India.
“There is no doubt that the future of human spaceflight and the space environment is incompatible with the disastrous direct-ascent ASAT missile tests,” NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a statement.
He dubbed the US measure “an important step in promoting a safe, sustainable space environment” and called on other countries to follow suit.
Debris generated by an anti-satellite strike has the potential to hit thousands of satellites in orbit that are critical to many systems, including communications and navigation.
Therefore, the ability to destroy satellites of other countries may prove to be a strategic military asset and such tests raise fears over the armament of space.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)