Fears Of An Arms Race In The Space Has Been Raised By A Mysterious Russian Projectile

 

 

Russia has been accused by the United States this week as an anti-satellite weapon has been tested in space. The charges have been denied by Moscow as they said that the device was specifically a ‘special instrument’ that is used to inspect the Russian equipment that is orbiting.

The incident has marked a rare military escalation for Washington in space.

The United States along with Russia and China has also been joined by India since 2019, as satellites can be targeted with projectiles that are earth-launched. But millions of pieces of debris are created in the orbit by these explosions. The world powers prompted to refrain from these types of tests.

The incident that happened this week can be seen as a message to Washington, which is building a new Space Force wing under President Donald trump for its military.

General Jay Raymond, who is the commander of Space Force reiterated on Friday that space like air, land, and sea is just another domain for warfighting.

A satellite named Cosmos 2542 has been launched by Russia in November 2019. Observers were surprised by the satellite a week later as a sub-satellite called Cosmos 2543 has been released that is very much capable of maneuvering in the orbit to spy, inspect and observe other satellites.

This sub-satellite came very close to a spy satellite of the US called the USA 245 and also to another satellite of Russia. A cat and mouse game has begun in the orbit that can be easily observed by astronomers from the earth as well as the US military that expressed its concern publicly.

At around 7.50 GMT on 15th July, an object at high relative speed has been released by Cosmos 2543 that came at a speed of 200 meters per second according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell.

The United States has dubbed it as Object E as it is still in the orbit and it seems that it has not hit anything. The purpose, shape, and size have remained a mystery but this will diminish the threat it possesses.

According to the US, the difference between a weapon and satellite is theoretical in space.

According to Christopher Ford, who is the assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation, in space, it is the equivalent of a bullet.

It is implicitly admitted by Moscow and has accused London and Washington of having repair programs and satellite inspections that are used as ‘counter-satellite weapons’.

Similar satellites can be launched by the United States as it has maneuverable military satellites that are in the orbit.

Spy satellites are rare, extremely costly, and enormous. The US is highly dependent upon space. The commander of the Space Force on Friday said that the US military from infantry to airplanes is dependent on space-based technology for its intelligence, communication, and navigation.

Direct talks will be held between Russia and the USA in Vienna next week as a part of their first meeting on issues related to space security since the year 2013.