News In Brief

Pravda raps US over test of antisatellite missile

The Soviet Communist Party daily Pravda said Thursday the US had taken an irresponsible step in testing the antisatellite weapon over California last week.

''Now that a massive program to develop antirocket space weapons has been undertaken on the President's own instructions, the chances of reaching agreement are lessened even more,'' Pravda said.

On Aug. 18, the last time he was seen publicly, Soviet President Andropov told visiting US senators that Moscow was prepared to enter talks on banning the development and deployment of any space weapons. Mr. Andropov also said the Soviet Union would not be the first to launch new antisatellite weapons into space.