Russian space junk from missile test triggers scare at space station, US is fuming

A Russian weapons test created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk that threatened the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station, the US has said.

The US State Department confirmed on Monday that the debris were from an old Russian satellite destroyed by the missile. It called the Russian test "reckless and irresponsible".

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Reports said that Russia had carried out an anti-satellite weapon test.

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

At the same time, Russian cosmonauts also boarded a Soyuz spacecraft on the Russian segment.

The astronauts boarded spacecraft that can be used as lifeboats to bring crew back to Earth in an emergency.

There was no immediate comment late Monday from Russia about the missile strike.