The Russian Defense Ministry expressed concern on Saturday about
Washington's decision to destroy its damaged intelligence-gathering
satellite with air defense systems.
Washington's decision to liquidate the spacecraft and the
hastiness with which the Pentagon is trying to destroy its
satellite raise a number of questions, said the Defense Ministry's
Department of Information and Public Relations.
"In particular, there are not enough arguments to substantiate
the decision for intercepting the falling satellite with air
defense systems," Itar-Tass news agency quoted the department as
saying.
In addition, the United States has not provided "a comparative
assessment of the consequences of intercepting the satellite in
orbit and its uncontrolled descent," said the ministry.
The ministry said the operation to destroy a US spy satellite
could prove to be the testing of an anti-satellite weapon, the
Itar-Tass reported.
"Essentially, speculations about the danger of the satellite
hide preparations for the classical testing of an anti-satellite
weapon," it said.
"Such testing essentially means the creation of a new type of
strategic weans," it added.
The United States plans to shoot down a malfunctioning spy
satellite carrying toxic fuel, known by its military designation as
USA 193.
The satellite, launched in Dec. 2006, lost power and its central
computer failed almost immediately afterward, leaving it
uncontrollable.
Left alone, the satellite would be expected to hit earth during
the first week of March.
Military and administration officials said the satellite is
carrying fuel called hydrazine that could injure or even kill
people who are near it when it hits the ground.
(Xinhua News Ageny February 17, 2008)
