Investigation of satellite collision needs days or longer: U.S. spokesman

However, he mentioned that experts did comment that the space is getting "increasingly congested." Currently there is no known technology that can collect inactive satellites or debris. All parties who have interest in space have to work on prevention.

A computer-generated image released by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows trackable objects in Low Earth Orbit (LOE). US and Russian satellites crashed in space, the  first known major accident of its kind, creating two clouds of debris that were being tracked by experts. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

McInturff said during the course of the investigation there could be meetings between U.S. and Russian experts in the future. But whether a meeting would convene, if it does whether it would concentrate on just this one incident or on a broader issue of satellite operation safety, or whether other governments could be invited, are all questions he can not answer.

He said the State Department has not contacted other governments including China who have assets in space other than Russia. During the investigation the State Department's role is to communicate with related parties, while the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) take the lead on the technical aspects.

One satellite owned by Iridium Satellite LLC, which operates a constellation of 66 low Earth orbiting ones that provide mobile voice and data communications globally, collided with a defunct Russian satellite at nearly 790 km over Siberia on Tuesday. The 560-kg Iridium 33 satellite was launched in 1997, while the 900-kgRussian satellite was launched in 1993.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei