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INFO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 012948 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019 
TAGS: TSPA TPSL
SUBJECT: COLLISION OF U.S. IRIDIUM AND RUSSIAN COSMOS 
SATELLITES IN ORBIT 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: ISN A/S Eliot Kang, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and 
(d) 
 
 
¶1. (U)  THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUEST.  SEE 
PARAGRAPHS 3, 4, and 6. 
 
¶2. (S) BACKGROUND:  At approximately 11:55 a.m. (EST) on 
February 10, there was a collision between an active 
privately-owned and -operated U.S. commercial Iridium-33 
communications satellite and a "dead" (i.e., inactive 
since 1995) Russian military communications satellite 
(Cosmos 2251) in low Earth orbit. 
 
(S) There have been some limited telephone disruptions in 
the Middle East and parts of South Asia due to the loss 
of the Iridium-33 satellite.  The Cosmos 2251 was a 
Russian communications satellite that was launched in 
June 1993 and assessed as inactive since 1995.  U.S. 
Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is investigating the 
collision, but details may not be forthcoming for days. 
 
(S) News reports of the collision are already out.  The 
U.S. Air Force's Space Surveillance Network is tracking 
505 pieces from Cosmos and 194 pieces from Iridium in two 
separate debris fields.  The number of pieces of debris 
detected and tracked will increase as the debris clouds 
spread with time.  The debris is a hazard for other 
Iridium satellites; initial analysis indicates there is 
little risk to the International Space Station. 
Potential risks to non-U.S. space-based assets and 
upcoming manned and unmanned launches are unknown at this 
time.  Due to the small mass of the debris pieces from 
both spacecraft, there is an extremely low risk of debris 
hazards to life and property on the Earth's surface. 
 
(SBU) According to NASA, Russian debris experts have 
already asked NASA experts about newly-identified debris 
fields.  In a public statement, Nicholas Johnson, NASA's 
chief scientist for orbital debris at the Johnson Space 
Center confirmed the collision occurred in space at an 
altitude of 790 kilometers (490 miles) over northern 
Siberia, resulting in a large amount of debris from both 
objects. 
 
(SBU) The U.S. follows safe practices for the operation 
and disposal of spacecraft, upon the end of their useful 
service life, and to mitigate debris that may threaten 
other spacecraft, including manned flight. The U.S. 
encourages other nations to follow the established 
principles outlined in existing treaties and 
international agreements for the peaceful use of outer 
space. This includes the use of best practices, and 
transparency and confidence building measures, which 
should be conducted on a bilateral and multilateral 
basis, as appropriate. 
 
END BACKGROUND. 
 
¶3. (SBU) GUIDANCE FOR BERLIN, BRUSSELS, CANBERRA, LONDON, 
OTTAWA, PARIS (FOR HOST NATION OFFICIALS AND THE EUROPEAN 
SPACE AGENCY), ROME, TOKYO, BEIJING, KYIV, PRAGUE, 
COPENHAGEN, TEL AVIV, WARSAW, SEOUL, THE HAGUE, USEU (FOR 
THE EUROPEAN UNION), USNATO (FOR NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL): 
POSTS ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE ARANGEMENTS TO PROMPTLY 
DELIVER THE U.S. TALKING POINTS IN PARAGRAPH 5 TO 
APPROPRIATE HOST COUNTRY OFFICIALS. 
 
¶4. (SBU) GUIDANCE FOR EMBASSY MOSCOW: PLEASE REFER TO 
SEPTEL (120535Z February 09) FOR SPECIFIC GUIDANCE. 
 
STATE 00012948  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (U) U.S. TALKING POINTS ON THE COLLISION OF THE U.S. 
IRIDIUM AND RUSSIAN COSMOS SATELLITES IN SPACE: 
 
-On February 10, a collision occurred involving an active U.S. 
commercial Iridium-33 satellite and an inactive Russian 
satellite (Cosmos 2251) in low Earth orbit. 
 
-The United States and Russian Federation are in communication 
with each other regarding the collision. 
 
-U.S. Strategic Command is currently investigating the events 
leading up to the collision, and details may not be forthcoming 
for many days while the analysis of the event continues. 
 
-As of late yesterday, the U.S. Air Force's Space Surveillance 
Network was tracking 505 pieces from Cosmos and 194 pieces from 
Iridium in two separate debris fields. 
 
-There is little risk to the International Space Station due to 
orbiting debris from the collision.  However, the Department of 
Defense and NASA are conducting further analyses on the risks 
due to the debris.  The U.S. will provide additional 
notifications to foreign governments and commercial operators, 
if its tracking and analysis identifies safety-of-flight 
hazards. 
 
-Since space is becoming an increasingly congested environment, 
heightened space situational awareness as well as international 
cooperation between governments and industry is critical in the 
future. 
 
Additional talking points that may be drawn upon, as 
appropriate: 
 
-U.S. Strategic Command regularly notifies users, for example, 
foreign governments and commercial operators, when its tracking 
and analysis identifies a safety-of-flight issue. 
 
--Such analysis is primarily focused on ensuring safety of 
human space flight and national security missions. 
 
-The U.S. takes its responsibility in the space domain very 
seriously; we have been, and continue to be, proactive in 
identifying potential hazards and taking steps to preserve 
safety of flight in this complex environment. 
 
-When the potential for a close approach is identified, experts 
analyze options for avoiding an impact, including the 
possibility of maneuvering a satellite if necessary and 
possible.  The decision to maneuver always rests with the 
satellite operator. 
 
-Tracking data on the debris from this collision will be 
included in the Joint Space Operations Center's Space 
Catalogue ? "http://www.Space-track.org" ? an 
unclassified U.S. Air Force internet site, within 
approximately 48-72 hours after the collision. 
 
END U.S. TALKING POINTS. 
 
¶6. INFO POSTS MAY USE THE TALKING POINTS IN PARAGRAPH 5 
AS APPROPRIATE WITH HOST GOVERNMENTS, BUT ONLY ON AN 'IF 
ASKED' BASIS. 
CLINTON