UK blasts Russian space test that had 'characteristics of a weapon'

The man in charge of Britain's space programs has publicly criticised Russia for a satellite test launch "with the characteristics of a weapon".

In an unusual intervention, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth said Russia's actions could "threaten the peaceful use of space and risk causing debris that could pose a threat to satellites and the space systems on which the world depends".

In a tweet, he said he was calling on Russia to avoid further tests of this type.

Sky News' defence correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "Apparently Russia fired 'a projectile' from one of its satellites at another Russian-owned satellite.

"It's a step towards the militarisation of space.

"If a country can shoot down/disable its own satellite then it can obviously do the same to an enemy."