Russia test blamed for space junk threatening space station

U.S. officials say a Russian weapons test created the space junk that is now threatening the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A Russian weapons test created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk that is now threatening the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station, U.S. officials said Monday.

The State Department confirmed that the debris was from an old Russian satellite destroyed in Monday's anti-satellite weapons test.

“It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was irresponsible,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price.

Earlier Monday, the four Americans, one German and two Russians on board were forced to seek shelter in their docked capsules because of the debris.