News

U.S. becomes first country to ban anti-satellite space missile tests

Published

4 years ago

April 20, 2022

The U.S. is responding to dangerous space debris by banning missile tests against space satellites, becoming the first country to do so

United States Vice-President Kamala Harris chairs the National Space Council and labelled the tests as reckless and dangerous.

She emphasised that the Biden administration is determined to ensure responsible use of space.

Speaking at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California Harris says stopping the direct ascent anti-satellite missile testing will protect satellites in low-Earth orbit and urged for other countries to consider the measure.

The US, China, India and Russia have all taken part in such missile tests previously and it’s resulted in widespread debris.

Space debris presents many problems for astronauts, satellites and the growing commercial presence there.

Debris doesn’t have to be large to cause havoc something as small as a basketball could destroy a satellite and even debris the size of a grain of sand could cause serious damage.

It was only late last year that Russia tested an anti-satellite missile hitting an unused Soviet-era spy satellite in low-Earth orbit.

This strike sent 1,632 pieces of debris floating in Earth’s orbit.

Astronauts were in the International Space Station at the time and had to seek shelter in their docked capsule with the missile nearly hitting the ISS.

If this debris is to hit working satellites then we could lose a variety of services like GPS and weather warnings would be missed.

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Natasha Schapova

Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.

News

NASA’s Artemis II launch: Argentina joins first crewed moon mission in 50 years

NASA’s Artemis II rocket is ready for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, featuring Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite.

Published

14 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

NASA’s Artemis II rocket is ready for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, featuring Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite.

NASA’s Artemis II rocket has arrived at Kennedy Space Center, marking the first crewed Moon mission in more than five decades.

The mission will carry a crew of four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the Moon, with a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for February 2 to test all systems.

In a historic moment for Latin America, Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite will join the Artemis II mission as secondary cargo. Developed through a collaboration of Argentine institutions, ATENEA will collect crucial data on radiation and communications systems in space, making Argentina the only Latin American country contributing to this milestone mission.

The Artemis II mission will also validate life support and spacecraft systems ahead of Artemis III, NASA’s planned crewed lunar landing in 2027. With the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft now on Launch Pad 39B, excitement is building for this next giant leap in space exploration.

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#ArtemisII #MoonMission #NASA #ATENEA #SpaceExploration #ArgentinaInSpace #SLSRocket #OrionSpacecraft

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Iran warns U.S. retaliation as protest death toll soars — executions feared, nationwide unrest

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Published

14 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Iran has issued a stark warning of a severe response to any U.S. military strike, with leaders stressing that military action would be treated as an act of war.

President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that attacks on strategic sites or leadership figures could trigger retaliation against U.S. and allied forces in the region — including potential targets in Israel and American bases. These warnings come as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate amid sustained unrest across Iran.

The backdrop for this diplomatic brinkmanship is a bitter standoff between Tehran and the U.S., with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly debating options for intervention and criticising Iran’s leadership.

Tehran, for its part, has blamed external forces for stoking internal dissent and insists it will fiercely defend its sovereignty.

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#IranProtests #IranUSConflict #MiddleEastTensions #HumanRights #IranDeathToll #ProtestCrackdown #GlobalNews

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EU condemns Trump’s Greenland tariff threats: Trade tensions escalate

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Published

14 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Major EU nations are pushing back against President Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland, calling them “blackmail” and raising tensions across the Atlantic. Germany and France are reportedly considering economic countermeasures to respond to the U.S. stance.

Trade agreements with the UK and the EU could be at risk, as these threats put key negotiations in jeopardy. The European Parliament is also expected to pause discussions on the EU-U.S. trade deal, signaling a growing rift.

Meanwhile, British officials insist their position on Greenland is non-negotiable, adding complexity to an already tense situation.

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#TrumpTariffs #Greenland #EUTensions #TradeWars #USPolitics #GlobalEconomy #EUTrade #NationalSecurity