ISS astronauts asked to get into capsules for safety after Russia destroys old satellite

U.S. officials say a Russian weapons test created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk that are now threatening the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The State Department confirmed Monday that the debris was from an old Russian satellite destroyed in the anti-satellite weapons test.

"It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was irresponsible," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.

The astronauts temporarily retreated into their docked capsules Monday, after first being informed of the threat. Mission Control later had them close the hatches between the space station compartments as a safety precaution.