(Washington, DC) The National Security Council has reported that the Chinese government recently conducted a test of anti-satellite technology in which it used a ground-based ballistic missile to destroy a Chinese polar-orbiting weather satellite.
The destruction of the satellite resulted in the creation of debris fragments that could potentially damage other spacecraft operating in low Earth orbits.
Upon hearing of the reported Chinese anti-satellite test, Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement:
“I am deeply concerned about the reported Chinese anti-satellite test. I believe that it is ill-advised for a number of reasons: it is destabilizing; the debris cloud created as a result of the test increases the risk to civil and commercial satellites; and the test fosters an environment that will make it more difficult to consider potential cooperation with China in civil space activities. I hope that this will be the last such test to occur.”
