The US pledged not to perform any type of anti-satellite missile tests (ASAT) in an apparent self-imposed ban. It’s part of the Biden administration’s pledge to responsibly use space.
Vice President Kamala Harris made the announcement on April 18 at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. She also urged other nations to do the same.
The pledge comes ahead of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group‘s inaugural meeting on “reducing space threats,” which will begin on May 9 in Geneva. Space debris is becoming more of a problem, and ASAT activities exacerbate the problem.
The prohibition likewise appears to be the first of its type. The Biden administration has already stated that it will encourage responsible space utilization.
“I am pleased to announce that as of today, the United States commits not to conduct destructive direct ascent anti-satellite missile testing,” said Harris. She also chairs the National Space Council.
“Simply put, these tests are dangerous, and we will not conduct them. We are the first nation to make such a commitment. And today, on behalf of the United States of America, I call on all nations to join us,” she added.
What is an anti-satellite weapon’s test?
A spacecraft in orbit is destroyed by a missile system during an anti-satellite weapons demonstration. The military usually demonstrates it.
Those governments that have conducted ASAT tests have so far targeted their own space assets.
It is yet to be in use in combat. China, India, Russia, and the United States are among the countries that have successfully shot down their own satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities.
Russia successfully test-fired an anti-satellite missile on November 15, striking a defunct Soviet-era surveillance satellite in low-Earth orbit.
According to a catalog of orbital objects maintained by the United States Space Force, it produced at least 1,632 pieces of space debris.