An Indian anti-satellite test has created dangerous debris, according to the head of NASA

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said today (April 1) that The recent antisatellite test from India created 60 orbital debris large enough to be spotted, of which 24 stand higher than the orbit of the International Space Station around the Earth.

Bridenstine had harsh words to say about today 's test by India at a public meeting at NASA, saying that causing this type of risk to humans in the United States. Space and operations in low Earth orbit was unacceptable.

"It's a terrible thing, to create an event that sends debris into a climax that passes over the International Space Station," said Bridenstine at the city council meeting which was broadcast live on the channel NASA television. "And this kind of activity is not compatible with the future of manned flights that we must see happen."

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"We are responsible for marketing the low Earth orbit, we need more space activities than ever before in the interest of the human person, that it is pharmaceuticals or 3D printing of human organs to save lives on Earth., or manufacturing capabilities in space that you are not able to achieve under gravity conditions, "at- he added. "All of these countries are at risk when this kind of events occurs – and when one country does, others feel compelled to do so too."

Bridenstine said that NASA had identified 400 orbital debris from the event, of which 60 more than 10 centimeters in diameter that the agency can track and 24 that were crossing the orbital height of the space station. From last week, the agency, with the Combined Space Operations Center (part of the US Strategic Strategic Command), estimated that the risk of small debris impacting the International Space Station had increased by 44% over a 10-day period.

Related: India says its ASAT test has created minimal space debris. Is it true?

(Bridenstine later added that despite this heightened risk, the astronauts were still safe and that the International Space Station would be maneuvered if necessary to avoid debris – although it is unlikely that this is necessary.)

"The good thing is that if it is low enough in Earth orbit, it will eventually dissipate over time," said Bridenstine – while much of the debris of a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test is still in orbit.

Bridenstine referred to the US management of a space situational awareness and space management database that can be used by all around the world. Part of this responsibility will soon be transferred to the Commerce Department under the Trump Administration. Space Policy Directive-3, but it will remain essential to track debris, including those created by the Indian test.

"But at the end of the day, we need to be clear: with everyone in the world, we are the only federal government agency that has human lives at stake here," said Bridenstine. "And it's not acceptable for us to allow people to create orbital debris fields putting our people at risk."

"We must also make it clear that these activities are neither sustainable nor compatible with manned spaceflight," he added.

Last week in an American home audienceBridenstine also referred to debris-generating operations, although he did not refer to India's test.

"The debris ends up being there for a long time, if we destroy space, we will not recover it," he said at the time. "And it's also important to note that the intentional creation of debris fields is a bad thing … the whole world [has to] Intensify and say: if you are going to do this, you will pay a consequence – and for the moment, this consequence is not paid. "