Cosmos 1408 anti-satellite test (Russia)
On 15 November 2021 Russia destroyed its own satellite Cosmos 1408 with a missile in low Earth orbit. The test produced 1,807 catalogued pieces of debris, and the International Space Station crew sheltered in their spacecraft.
Count from ESA and the CelesTrak catalogue; 4 remained at the time of the count (date not stated).
Status As of the latest material reviewed (2022 resolution): 1,807 pieces catalogued, 4 remaining at the time of the count; the moratorium commitment is not binding.
- Crew of the International Space Station — Sheltered in their spacecraft for about two hours. NASA
What happened
On 15 November 2021 Russia struck its Cosmos 1408 satellite, which weighed 2,180 kg, with a missile at an altitude of 465–490 km. The ESA and CelesTrak catalogue count records 1,807 catalogued pieces, of which 4 remained in orbit.
The US State Department said the test produced "over fifteen hundred pieces of trackable orbital debris". The crew of the International Space Station closed hatches and sheltered in their spacecraft from shortly before 2 a.m. to about 4 a.m. EST. The NASA Administrator, Nelson, called the test "reckless and dangerous".
For comparison, India's Mission Shakti test on 27 March 2019 against the Microsat-R satellite at about 294 by 265 km left 130 catalogued pieces, none remaining. NASA Administrator Bridenstine said about 400 pieces were produced in total and about 60 were trackable.
In 2022 the United States decided to stop anti-satellite missile tests, and about 37 countries joined it. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on this in 2022 with 155 votes; China voted against. The commitment is not binding.
- 2019India's Mission Shakti test, 27 March: 130 catalogued pieces, none remaining
- 2021Russia destroys Cosmos 1408, 15 November; ISS crew shelters for about two hours
- 2022US decides to stop anti-satellite missile tests; about 37 countries join; UN General Assembly resolution adopted with 155 votes, China against
What was said
“reckless and dangerous”
“over fifteen hundred pieces of trackable orbital debris”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
1,807 catalogued pieces.
Over fifteen hundred pieces of trackable orbital debris.
No statement recorded in the sources reviewed.
How it looked
Shown
Recorded
- Cosmos 1408, 2,180 kg, was struck at 465–490 km on 15 November 2021; 1,807 pieces catalogued, 4 remaining.
- The ISS crew closed hatches and sheltered in their spacecraft from shortly before 2 a.m. to about 4 a.m. EST.
- NASA said the 2007 test and the 2009 collision together more than doubled the number of registered objects below 1,000 km.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Accounts
- Disputed How many pieces did the test produce?
- None on record Government of Russia: No statement recorded in the sources reviewed.
Record
- None on record Russia's own account of the test: no statement is recorded in the sources reviewed.
- None on record The date of the count that gives 4 pieces remaining: not stated.
- None on record The commitment on anti-satellite test moratoria is not binding.
- None on record Who gained from the test: the sources reviewed do not say.
Did the harm stop?
The 2022 moratorium commitment is not binding; the sources reviewed record no further Russian test after November 2021.
Who paid?
The sources reviewed do not say.
Sources
Government and regulators
Connected cases
- Fengyun-1C anti-satellite test China · 2007–2026
- NASA (Government) — here: Statement on the test; ISS crew sheltered; there: Publisher of Orbital Debris Quarterly News
- Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 collision Low Earth orbit · 2009–2026
- NASA (Government) — here: Statement on the test; ISS crew sheltered; there: Publisher of Orbital Debris Quarterly News
- ISS battery pallet debris hits a Florida home United States · 2021–2024
- NASA (Government) — here: Statement on the test; ISS crew sheltered; there: Operator of the ISS equipment; respondent to the claim
- Long March 5B uncontrolled reentries China · 2020–2022
- NASA (Government) — here: Statement on the test; ISS crew sheltered; there: Government space agency; its Administrator commented on the reentries
- Norilsk diesel spill Russia · 2020–2023
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Conducted the test; there: Declared federal emergency; federal budget received the award