U.S. claims just lately launched Russian satellite tv for pc is an ASAT

WASHINGTON — The U.S. authorities claims {that a} just lately launched Russian satellite tv for pc is a counterspace weapon positioned in practically the identical orbit as an American reconnaissance satellite tv for pc.

Amb. Robert Wooden, U.S. alternate consultant for particular political affairs within the United Nations, made the allegation throughout a Could 20 debate by the U.N. Safety Council on a Russian decision proposing a ban on the position of weapons of any sort in area.

“Simply final week, on Could 16, Russia launched a satellite tv for pc into low Earth orbit that the USA assesses is probably going a counterspace weapon, presumably able to attacking different satellites in low Earth orbit,” he stated. “Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the identical orbit as a U.S. authorities satellite tv for pc.”

Russia launched a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia Could 16. Its major payload was a satellite tv for pc designated Cosmos 2576. The Russian authorities didn’t disclose particulars in regards to the satellite tv for pc or its mission.

Impartial satellite tv for pc observers famous within the days following the launch that Cosmos 2576 is in an orbit with a few of the similar parameters as USA 314, a spacecraft believed to be a reconnaissance satellite tv for pc. Cosmos 2576 is in a decrease orbit, however observers famous that Cosmos 2558 launched into an analogous orbit in 2022 after which raised its orbit to make shut approaches to a different American reconnaissance satellite tv for pc, USA 326.

Wooden, in his remarks, didn’t focus on how the U.S. authorities reached the conclusion that Cosmos 2576 is a counterspace weapon or what capabilities that satellite tv for pc has. He did word that this launch “follows prior Russian satellite tv for pc launches seemingly of counterspace methods to low Earth orbit in 2019 and 2022.”

His remarks got here throughout a debate by the Safety Council on a decision proposed by Russia that may search to ban the position of weapons of any sort in area. Russia provided the decision after it vetoed April 24 a decision provided by Japan and the USA looking for to reaffirm provisions of the Outer House Treaty banning the position of weapons in outer area, a decision prompted by reviews that Russia is growing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, argued that the Russian decision was extra complete. “Right now’s vote is a novel second of reality for our Western colleagues,” he stated. “In the event that they fail to assist this, then they are going to clearly present that their primary precedence stays holding the liberty for themselves to expedite the militarization of outer area.”

He briefly responded to Wooden’s claims that Cosmos 2576 was an anti-satellite weapon. “Now, simply now, the U.S. consultant referred to some form of satellite tv for pc which, in his opinion, as soon as once more in a extremely seemingly fashion, will be seemingly, probably, positioned on a nuclear engine. I didn’t even perceive what he was speaking about,” he stated. “However that’s not what’s vital.”

Wooden, in his remarks, didn’t declare the brand new Russian satellite tv for pc was a nuclear weapon or was nuclear powered, and U.S. officers have beforehand stated they don’t imagine Russia has but deployed a nuclear weapon in area.

Wooden and representatives of different Western nations stated they opposed the Russian decision due to long-standing issues in regards to the difficulties verifying a ban on weapons in area. Additionally they alleged that Russia didn’t act in good religion in negotiations about its decision, with Wooden calling the decision the “end result of Russia’s marketing campaign of diplomatic gaslighting and dissembling.”

The Safety Council didn’t approve Russia’s decision, with 7 of 15 members, together with Russia and China, voting in favor of it. Seven different nations, together with France, Japan, the UK and the USA, voted towards it. Switzerland abstained.

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