Good day for paranoid autocrats flexing.
Bad day for people that like GPS, telecommunications, and weather forecasts.
Today’s show of force was a demonstration of an antisatellite weapon to blow up an old out-of-use Russian satellite. Trouble is that the debris field’s orbit now endangers the International Space Station every 90 minutes or so. Russia presumably could have chosen ASAT target below ISS -- or much higher. So really raises questions re their intent (i.e., knowing threat to ISS) and/or decision making process (e.g., military did not consider hazard to Russian astronauts or diplomatic ramifications) Well done.
The US Space Command said it was tracking orbiting debris on Monday after Russia appeared to have conducted an anti-satellite missile test destroying an aging satellite creating over 1,500 pieces of trackable debris, the statement said. Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) had to shelter in place and close and then reopen several compartments every 90 minutes due to debris. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said they "condemn Russia's reckless test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile against its own satellite," further adding, it creates a risk for "the integrity of the International Space Station." Russia, as of yet, has not commented on the incident.
This is what happens to aluminum when hit by a 1/2 oz (~14g) piece of plastic going 15,000 mph (~24000 km/h) in space