'Space crash can lead to damage of N-powered satellites'

The debris of US and Russian satellites, which have crashed in space, could damage the Soviet-era spacecraft with nuclear reactors resulting in an orbital 'radiation belt', said a Russian expert commenting on the human history's first "traffic accident".

The debris of US and Russian satellites, which have crashed in space, could damage the Soviet-era spacecraft with nuclear reactors resulting in an orbital 'radiation belt', said a Russian expert commenting on the human history's first "traffic accident".

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According to NASA, Russian Kosmos series 'Strela' military satellite and American 'Iridium' communication satellites collided in space some 800 kilometres above Siberia on Tuesday, creating a massive explosion with much debris scattering through space.

"After the collision, the debris of spacecraft were scattered in all directions including upwards, where old Soviet nuclear powered US-A (Russian abbreviation of 'guided satellite -active') spacecraft for keeping an eye on potential adversary's navy are 'buried'. There is a threat of fragments hitting these spacecraft with nuclear reactors and formation of a belt of radioactive debris," an expert was quoted as saying by Interfax.

There is also a possibility of the debris hitting other "Strela" spacecraft in orbit, the expert speaking to the agency on the conditions of anonymity, did not rule out.