Clash between US and Russian satellites

Danger of debris in orbit

WASHINGTON – A US telecommunications satellite has clashed with a Russian satellite no longer in use. A spokesman for the US aerospace forces reported. The collision involved an Iridium Satellite spacecraft and a Russian telecommunications satellite no longer operational and occurred in low orbit about 780 kilometers from the ground.

The debris derived from the collision, which occurred on February 10, between the Russian military satellite Kosmos-2251 and the American Iridium could damage old Soviet spacecraft that are in the vicinity. And the latter have nuclear reactors on board, say the experts from Moscow.

In particular – sources to Russian news agencies explain – there is a risk of collision between the old observation satellites of the Soviet navy with debris, scattered around, and consequently, we could have the presence of radioactive rubble in orbit.

February 12 2009