Russian ASAT Test Sparks War of Words

摘要

The U.S. military reported on April 15 that it tracked a Russian test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile (ASAT). The test did not involve the destruction of a satellite, which can produce space debris. The Pentagon pointed to Russia's test as evidence of Russia's malign intentions. The "test provides yet another example that the threats to U.S. and allied space systems are real, serious and growing," said Gen. John W. Raymond, commander of U.S. Space Command and Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. Raymond added that the "test is further proof of Russia's hypocritical advocacy of outer space arms control proposals designed to restrict the capabilities of the United States while clearly having no intention of halting their counterspace weapons programs."