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Russia launched anti-satellite weapon into space.

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On 16 May 2024, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that the Pentagon assessed was likely a counter-space weapon capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit. Gen. Pat Ryder said Russia placed the new system in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, and that its characteristics resembled Russian counter-space payloads previously deployed in 2019 and 2022. He did not provide further intelligence details, but said the U.S. would continue monitoring the system and has a responsibility to protect and defend its space assets while maintaining a stable space environment. When asked whether the weapon currently posed a threat to the U.S. satellite, Ryder pointed specifically to the fact that the two were in the same orbit. war.gov 

Occurrence
Publication
First observed
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
United States
Updated

Attribution

Official

Facts

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Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    On 16 May 2024, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that the Pentagon assessed was likely a counter-space weapon capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit. Gen. Pat Ryder said Russia placed the new system in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, and that its characteristics resembled Russian counter-space payloads previously deployed in 2019 and 2022. He did not provide further intelligence details, but said the U.S. would continue monitoring the system and has a responsibility to protect and defend its space assets while maintaining a stable space environment. When asked whether the weapon currently posed a threat to the U.S. satellite, Ryder pointed specifically to the fact that the two were in the same orbit. war.gov 