WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. military claimed Monday it knew of a debris-generating event in outer space. One official stated that Russia may have conducted an anti-satellite weapons test.

Experts agree that anti-satellite missiles can cause space hazards by shattering their targets. They create a cloud of fragments, which could collide with other objects. This in turn may set off an Earth orbit chain reaction.

U.S. Space Command released a statement saying that it was actively involved in characterizing the debris field. It will ensure space-faring nations continue to have all the information they need to maneuver satellites, if impacted.

A U.S. official said that the initial reports suggested Russia had performed an ASAT testing over the weekend.

It was not possible to comment immediately on the Russian ministry of defense and military.

The first antisatellite testing was conducted by the United States in 1959. Satellites at that time were new and rare.

Russia’s anti-satellite weapon test was conducted in April. Officials believe that the space domain will be increasingly important.

India took down a satellite in its low-Earth orbit using a ground to space missile in 2019.

U.S. military relies more on satellites for ground operations. Satellites guide munitions using space-based lasers and satellites, and can also be used to track and monitor missile launches.

The tests also raise questions about long-term sustainability for operations in space, which are vital to many commercial activities including banking and GPS services.