Russia has launched a terrifying weapon into space that can potentially take out satellites, according to US officials.
“Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter space weapon,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig Gen Pat Ryder announced on Tuesday evening.
He revealed that the satellite was on the “same orbit” as a US government satellite, and assured that Washington would continue to monitor the situation and protect its interests.
Ryder also revealed the Pentagon’s fears that the Russian satellite was “presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit”.
Satellites orbiting the Earth allow us to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world. They also provide scientists with the ability to monitor the planet and predict weather.
In recent weeks, Russia and the US have been at loggerheads over the issue of space weapons at the UN, with both sides accusing each other of attempting to militarise space.
On Tuesday, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that the US was trying to transform space into an “arena for military confrontation”.
Many military experts have long cautioned that space is likely to become the next battleground in our increasingly technology-dependent world.
Ryder said: “Russia deployed this new counter space weapon into the same orbit as a US government satellite. And so assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counter space payloads, from 2019 and 2022.”
The Pentagon spokesman emphasised: “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”.
Ryder identified the satellite as Cosmos 2576, launched on 16 May from Russia’s Plesetsk cosmodrome, approximately 800km (497 miles) north of Moscow.
Russia’s Roskosmos state space agency confirmed in its statement that the launch on 17 May was “in the interests of the defence ministry of the Russian Federation”, utilising its Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle.
But Russia has denied the US’ claims of it being able to wipe out satellites. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency: “I don’t think we should respond to any fake news from Washington.”
