US condemns Russian anti-satellite test it says created 'dangerous' debris field

The U.S. on Monday condemned a weekend Russian anti-satellite test it said created a "dangerous" debris field.

The United States on Monday condemned a Russian anti-satellite test against one of its own satellites that the U.S. said created a field of more than 1,500 pieces of debris that could remain in orbit for decades and pose a threat to other satellites.

Previous Russian tests have been of missiles or "killer satellites" capable of bringing down a satellite, but the new test marks the first time Russia has brought down a satellite with a missile.

The State Department criticized the Russian test as another example of what it said was Russia's "dangerous and irresponsible behavior" in its space military operations.

"Earlier today the Russian Federation recklessly conducted a destructive test of a direct--ascent anti satellite missile against one of its own satellites," Ned Price, the State Department spokesman told reporters Monday.