15 December 2020: Russia conducts test of direct ascent anti-satellite weapon from Plesetsk Cosmodrome. US Space Command issues alert.
– Russia issued a commercial closure area on 12 December.
– Russia posted a nearly identical hazard zone during a similar PL19 (Nudol) test in April.
– PL19 Nudol is a so-called “direct ascent” ASAT weapon. Experts believe Nudol is a variant of the A-235 anti-ballistic missile system.
– The missile can reach high enough to hit satellites in low-Earth orbit, which is probably about where A-235 intercepts incoming missile warheads.
– Use of PL19 in a conflict would likely be in the early stages, in order to deprive an adversary of its space-based assets from the outset.
“The United States is concerned by Russia’s continued development and deployment of several types of ground-based and space-based ASAT weapons. These actions are contrary to Russia’s diplomatic and public stance against the weaponization of space.” US Space Command Statement 16 December 2020
