--- title: "US Agencies, Military Rush to Condemn Russia Blowing Up Satellite" description: "US government agencies are in surprising lockstep as they condemn Russia for unexpectedly exploding one of its own satellites." date: "2021-11-16" modified: "2021-11-16" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/us-agencies-military-condemn-russia-satellite" categories: - "Military" - "Off-World" - "Science & Energy" - "Space" tags: - "international relations" - "international space station" - "military" - "united states space corps" --- # US Agencies, Military Rush to Condemn Russia Blowing Up Satellite ![US government agencies are in surprising lockstep as they condemn Russia for unexpectedly exploding one of its own satellites.]() *\Image: Futurism\* US government agencies are in unusual lockstep as they condemn Russia for intentionally exploding its own satellite, creating a dangerous cloud of space junk and forcing astronauts aboard the International Space Station to [bunker down in their docked spaceships]() for safety. US [Space Command called]() the surprise antisatellite (ASAT) test "a reckless and dangerous act." And [NASA Administrator Bill Nelson](), citing the danger the ASAT test presented to the ISS and its crew, said he is "outraged by this unconscionable action." "It is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS," Nelson said, "but [also their own cosmonauts]()." Russia's ASAT quagmire has even caused non-space agencies to join in the chorus of condemnation. In a strongly worded tweet, [US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said]() Russia's action have risked "astronauts' lives, the integrity of the International Space Station, and the interests of all nations." ASAT tests aren't unprecedented, but they do carry an increasing taboo due to their [potential make orbit completely uninhabitable](). There have only been a handful in history, but their effects have been grim. Just last week, the ISS had to maneuver out of the way of *another* cloud of space junk that was created by a Chinese ASAT test that took place more than a decade ago. What makes this situation particularly volatile is that Russia didn't announce the test beforehand**,** and in doing so has caused a lot of problems for a lot of countries — [itself very much included](). The world of ASATs is a fraught aspect of the modern and very militarized space race, and placed in a broader political context, this orbital arms race is at least as scary as the one the US and the Soviet Union engaged in during the Cold War. To be clear: the US has, if nothing else, has appeared to stand by idly as [Russia's]() [military-aerospace]() [posturing]() has become [increasingly chaotic](). Take, for instance, a similar situation that occurred in April 2020: after US Space Command condemned Russia for yet another unruly ASAT test, Middlebury Institute arms control scholar Dr. Jeffrey Lewis [suggested]() that by refusing to disarm, the US "chose" this international game of chicken. Many questions remain as to what, if any, consequences will result from this latest Russian space fiasco. But if [history's taught us anything](), one thing is certain: there's a *lot* of room for things to get even uglier. **More on MissileGate:** [*US Government Furious at Russian Anti-Satellite Test*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()