Pentagon says India debris expected to burn up in atmosphere

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon said on Thursday that it stood by Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan's assessment last week that debris from an Indian anti-satellite weapons test would eventually burn up in the atmosphere, despite a subsequent, more negative assessment by NASA.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Monday more than 400 pieces of orbital debris from the test had been identified, including debris that was traveling above the International Space Station -- something he called a "terrible, terrible thing."

Asked whether the Pentagon stood by Shanahan's earlier assessment, spokesman Charlie Summers said: "Yes."