Contrails from test of a Chinese anti-satellite missile
The head of U.S. Air Force Space Command said on Tuesday that he is concerned about Russia and China using anti-satellite weapons to create hazardous debris in space, following reports that both countries tested those types of weapons in the last two months.
Gen. John Hyten, commander of the Air Force’s Space Command, told reporters after a Capitol Hill Club event that he is “concerned about any potential threat that would create debris in space,” particularly Russia and China’s construction of “kinetic energy anti-satellite weapons.”
“It creates an environment that will be there for decades, if not centuries,” said Hyten, who is a former engineer on both Air Force and Army anti-satellite weapon system programs. “And you can’t get rid of it.”
“So I don’t want to go down that path, and Russia and China are going down that path,” he added.
