Russia launched anti-satellite weapon into same orbit as US government satellite, Pentagon says

Russia launched an anti-satellite weapon into space in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, Pentagon spokesperson Gen. Patrick Ryder said.

"Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we - that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit," Ryder said during a press conference Tuesday.

Russia deployed the satellite on May 16, and the U.S. assesses the weapon contains a payload similar to that in other counter-space satellites deployed in 2019 and 2022, Ryder also said. 

When asked about whether the satellite currently posed a threat to the U.S. satellite, Ryder responded: "Well, it's a counter-space weapon in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, so."

Ryder also said that he did not know whether Russia notified the U.S. before the launch.

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