NASA: India's 'terrible' anti-satellite missile test endangered ISS astronauts The US space agency says hundreds of pieces of orbital debris created by New Delhi's test puts "human lives at stake".

Image: India became the fourth country to have anti-satellite capability

A recent anti-satellite missile test carried out by India which blasted a low-orbit satellite out of the sky has been described by NASA as a "terrible, terrible thing".

According to the space agency's administrator Jim Bridenstine, the test posed a particular threat to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to the resulting rogue debris.

He said several hundred pieces of debris identified over the course of 10 days after the test caused a 44% increase in a collision risk with the ISS, which Mr Bridenstine deemed "unacceptable".

"We need to be clear with everybody in the world, we're the only agency in the federal government that has human lives at stake here," he said.

"And it is not acceptable for us to allow people to create orbital debris fields that put at risk our people."


NASA's criticism was just the latest in a line of similar complaints from companies in the space industry.

Planet, a commercial satellite network company, said it "categorically condemned" the anti-missile test, encouraging governments with space capabilities to "respect our orbital commons".

"Space should be used for peaceful purposes," Planet said in a statement posted to Twitter. "And destroying satellites on orbit severely threatens the long term stability of the space environment for all operators."

In response, India's ministry of external affairs played down the highlighted risks, saying the test was carried out at a low altitude.

"Whatever debris that is generated will decay and fall back onto the Earth within weeks," the ministry said.

The test, which placed India as the fourth country with anti-satellite capabilities, was carried out just days ahead of Monday's launch of several satellites transported to three separate orbits aboard a single flight.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was jubilant over the successful test, saying it showed the "remarkable dexterity" of the country's scientists.