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ASAT Weapons Tests and Space Debris by 2023

Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons come in a variety of forms, including cyber operations, electronic jamming, laser "dazzling," and kinetic physical attacks like missiles and co-orbital weapons. Space Threat Assessment 2021

Some of these ASAT weapons may produce orbital debris or "space junk" that remains in orbit for prolonged periods of time. This is a major concern as the amount of objects in Earth's orbit and the complexity of space traffic management increase. Union of Concerned Scientists Space Debris Fact Sheet

For example, a January 2007 kinetic ASAT test conducted by China on a non-operational weather satellite created over 3,000 pieces of space debris. 2007 Chinese Anti-Satellite Test Fact Sheet, Secure World Foundation India's 2019 Mission Shakti is another example. See, e.g. "NASA Says Debris From India’s Antisatellite Test Puts Space Station at Risk".

As both the militarization and the commercialization of space continue, the effects of space debris-producing ASAT tests have become a source of concern for the international community.

This question asks whether an ASAT test by any state actor will create more than one piece of space debris between the launch of this question and the question closing date, as reported by credible news sources or research institutes.

Will a state actor conduct an ASAT test that results in space debris between the launch of this question and January 1, 2023?

This question will resolve positively if a mainstream news source or wire service (e.g. AP, NYT, etc.) or a credible non-profit organization or research center (e.g. Center for Strategic International Studies, Aerospace Corporation) concludes that an ASAT test conducted by a state actor resulted in more than one piece of space debris between 2021-08-06 and 2023-01-01.

Both the 2007 Chinese ASAT test and the 2019 Indian ASAT test would have resolved positively. See China ASAT NYT article and India ASAT NYT article

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