Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were put in danger from the debris resulting from a blown up satellite

Russia has conducted a missile test that has outraged the U.S. after it endangered the crew aboard the International space station.

The ISS crew were forced to shelter in capsules to avoid the debris from the Russian satellites that were blown up by the missile.

NASA’s chief says the test was “irresponsible” and labelled the action as “destabilising”.

He says “all nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from anti-satellite tests and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment”.

The station has seven crew members on board including four Americans, a German and two Russians… orbiting at an altitude of about 420 kilometres.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says the company will continue to monitor the debris to ensure the safety of their crew.

“It is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts. Their actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board,” Mr Nelson says.

A U.S. state department spokesman says “the test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller orbital debris that now threatens the interests of all nations”.