Russia admits missile test but denies ‘dangerous behaviour’

Russia last week admitted to destroying one of its satellites during a missile test but rejected US accusations that it had endangered the International Space Station.

US officials accused Moscow of “dangerous and irresponsible behaviour” after it conducted an anti-satellite weapons test that threatened the lives of the seven astronauts on board the ISS.

The Russian defence ministry said it had destroyed its Tselina-D satellite, which had been in orbit since 1982, and claimed that the “fragments that formed do not pose any threat to space activity”.