India’s recent downing of one of its own satellites as part of a test of its anti-satellite weapons systems has been labeled a “terrible thing” by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). According to the US space agency’s administrator Jim Bridenstine, the test has made it 44% more likely that space debris will hit the International Space Station (ISS) if nothing is done to prevent this. Nevertheless, Bridenstine stated that the ISS remains “safe,” adding that “[i]f we need to manoeuvre it we will.”
The test was conducted last week, less than a month before the Indian general elections. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who aims to be reelected, said that the successful test “made India a much stronger nation.” India has emphasized that the test was carried out at a low-orbit to avoid harmful debris.
Read more: Nasa: India’s satellite destruction could endanger ISS
