Every object in orbit could be an ASAT weapon.

    Every object in orbit could be an ASAT weapon. 

Researchers are worried. That China’s space-debris catcher can turn into an ASAT, an Anti-Satellite weapon. A debris catcher can also hijack other satellites. And that is the risk for national security. Satellites are vulnerable targets in modern warfare. They also play a key role in detecting enemies and providing communication datalinks and location services for both military and civilian services. The radar satellites can also detect their own troops if they carry a transponder that shows their location to radar satellites. The problem with radar satellites is that those satellites are easy to knock out. The ASAT missile can have similar systems what regular anti-radiation missile uses when it attacks regular targets. 

The drone swarms are things that require satellite-based communication and that advance and accelerate the development of anti-satellite weapons. In some models, high-power radars send EMP pulses against satellites. High-power radar impulses can destroy the satellite's electronics. Or the system can form an electric arc around the satellite. There are systems that push satellites into the atmosphere. In the Cold War era, the Soviets made so-called “Almaz” tests. where their satellites and Almaz-space stations, like Salyut 5, tested things like machine guns against satellites. There is a possibility that some miniature shuttles have ASAT roles in the military world. 

Things like Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems, FOBS, causes the need for rapid reaction ASAT systems that can take these kinds of things out from orbit. The Chinese space shuttle made a flight with groups of mysterious objects, and that could be the test. There, the shuttle releases  and collects FOBS weapons, “space mines,” from the orbiter. The space mine means the structure whose purpose is to close the orbiter. Sometimes, miniature satellites that the kevlar wires connect together are planned for that mission. The problem is that the space mine must be removed when own operations begin. The nukes that are positioned into the orbiter can also be used to destroy other satellites and create EMP pulses that purpose it take the defense systems out. 

Things like laser systems are used to blind satellites. But there have been systems created that can destroy a targeted satellite. Those lasers and other electromagnetic systems can have megawatt-scale power. The orbital laser-satellite, with similar lasers. Used in the metal industry can cut and damage other satellites' solar panels. 

This is one thing that we must realize. And the second thing is that every object in the orbiter is an ASAT weapon. The simplest ASAT system is the satellite that collides with another satellite. This makes micro-satellites a perfect weapon. They are tools that can observe other satellites, but they can also act as ammunition, when they collide with another satellite in the case of war. Another thing is that the simple but effective version of the kinetic energy weapons is the space shotgun. In some other versions, the system uses a giant net to capture and push the satellite out of its trajectory. 

The system uses a rocket engine. The system pumps metal balls to the nozzle. And then the exhaust gas will send those balls against the targeted satellites. Or the system can use Claymore mines. To shoot metal balls at targeted satellites. Or those satellites can rocket salvos against satellites. In some visions, the system can drive a large magnet that pulls ions from the Van Allen belt to the targeted satellites. In some versions, the regular rocket transports a large number of metal balls to the orbital trajectory, making it useless. 

The problem with the ASAT weapons is this. The orbital trajectory is full of debris. Things like debris-cleaners whose purpose is to remove space junk are also excellent ASAT systems. The satellite can be put in the plastic bag, made of mylar. And then the small satellite simply pulls it into the atmosphere. The flying garbage can that takes a satellite in the tank and returns it to the atmosphere is the thing that can hijack satellites. And that system can take them to the ground for investigations. The satellite hijackers can be used to steal data from the captured satellites. 

Things like manipulator arms are things. The system can be used to push other satellites into the atmosphere. And in some visions. The satellites that carry hypersonic parachutes for return and recycle their components can also capture other satellites into those parachutes and take their targets with them. The parachutes can make it possible to research the microchips' sustainability against cosmic radiation. The problem is that the directed energy plasmoid weapons can cause similar damage to the solar plasma flow. The plasmoid weapon can knock out other satellites. And those kinds of things can be misidentified, caused by  solar wind. 

https://www.rudebaguette.com/en/2025/08/watched-net-drift-toward-a-target-in-silence-chinas-space-debris-catcher-sparks-fears-of-covert-anti-satellite-weapon-use/

https://www.twz.com/chinas-spaceplane-has-released-multiple-mystery-objects-in-orbit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaz

The new missile interceptors are under test.

  The new missile interceptors are under test. 

Satellites are a key element for military operations. That's why those spaceborne systems are high-priority targets. Those spaceborne navigation and communication satellites are also very vulnerable. If an enemy uses some kind of anti-satellite weapons against them. The idea of antisatellite missiles and weapons is not new. In the 1950s, the U.S. and Soviet military developed nuclear missiles that could destroy satellites and incoming nuclear missiles. The fact is, the same systems that can destroy incoming missiles can destroy other satellites. 

In 1963, the nuclear test "Dominick Starfish Prime" showed that the nuclear warheads were ineffective against ballistic missiles. If a nuclear warhead detonates too close to its own cities, the electromagnetic pulse destroys electronics in its own bases and cities. That meant that there was a need to create more advanced weapons that didn't cause an EMP pulse. 

One of the early attempts to make effective ASAT and ABM systems was the "GATV" or Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle. In that test, two Gemini spacecraft connected to the Agena stage. And then those spacecraft were put to rotate around that stage. The idea was to create artificial gravity. But another purpose was (probably) to create a giant propeller that could destroy incoming satellites and missiles. 

The need to create the new ASAT weapons was due to the EMP weapon threat. An EMP weapon can be a satellite that involves a nuclear bomb. If that nuclear bomb is launched over the enemy territory, it destroys all electrical equipment. Another very frightening system is the Fractional Orbital Bombardment system, FOBS. 

The FOBS is the nuclear warhead that is parked in orbit. When the order comes, the FOBS dives against its target. The miniature shuttles can carry FOBS or EMP weapons. The idea is that those systems can dive through the atmosphere against their target. Or they can suddenly detonate above the target area. The thing is that the miniature shuttle can return to base if its warhead was not used. 

One variant of the FOBS system is the large nuclear power laser that can get energy from a nuclear detonation. The nuclear warhead can be around the laser element. A large mirror can collect that radiation for the laser element. In the last case, the laser can also get energy from the sunlight. And the nuclear warhead is required only if the system needs power that allows a laser beam to reach the ground. 

"A graphic the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) put out earlier this year illustrating the threats to the United States homeland that Golden Dome is expected to help shield against. DIA" (Twz.com, Space-Based Missile Interceptors For Golden Dome Being Tested By Northrop)

"A graphic showing, in a very rudimentary way, the typical trajectories, from launch to impact, for traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, quasi or aeroballistic missiles, and air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles. GAO" (Twz.com, Space-Based Missile Interceptors For Golden Dome Being Tested By Northrop)

"A Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) graphic depicting various types of space-based anti-satellite capabilities. DIA" (Twz.com, Space-Based Missile Interceptors For Golden Dome Being Tested By Northrop)

Above: AGTV, Agena-Gemini Target Vehicle (Agena Target Vehicle, ATV)

X-37B

Dream Chaser

Mig-105 "Spiral"

Large-sized reconnaissance satellites with large mirror telescopes are tools that can guarantee the satellite's survivability. Those kinds of satellites can keep a longer distance from the Earth. That gives them safe against low-orbiter ASAT systems. The missile aimed at those satellites must fly for a longer time. And that gives more time to react to that threat. The satellite can have counter-weapons. Like space claymores that shoot iron balls against the incoming missile. Those systems are suitable against other satellites. So, the weapon race went to Space. 

There is a possibility of creating systems that can destroy those long-distance satellites using large-sized missile interceptors. Those interceptor missiles' top stage can be transformed into the YAG laser. The acetylene lamp can give energy to high-power lasers. And the rocket engine can use those gases as fuel. The top stage can fly against the targeted satellite and launch the laser system. 

In the 1980s, the Reagan government introduced an idea about the spaceborne antiballistic missile system, ABM, whose mission was to destroy Soviet missiles when they were attacking the USA. The program name was the Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI. In that time, technology was not advanced enough for this system to work. 

The main problem was that spaceborne missile defense systems could be vulnerable against Soviet anti-satellite weapons like kinetic energy interceptors and ground-based EMP and laser systems. The simplest possibility was that the missile launched a large number of iron nails at the orbiter to orbit in the opposite direction to the ABM platform. And those iron nails would damage or destroy the system. 

The modern version would include high-orbit observation platforms and the systems that shoot targets using kinetic energy railguns. Or the system can include the space shotgun. The iron balls that shot against other satellites or missiles. Those systems can look like the space version of the Claymore mines. The system sees the target and then the explosives send metal balls against it. The other versions are electromagnetic railguns that break the shell of targeted satellites and missiles. The problem is always debris that can close the trajectory from other satellites. 

The answer can be the EMP or other directed energy weapons. They can destroy other satellites. And especially EMP systems can keep those satellites intact. That thing denies the form of the debris. The EMP satellite can use normal solar panels to load its capacitors. Then the system targets the radio or microwave antenna to give an impulse. That can destroy the targeted satellite electronics. 

The other versions are things like long manipulators or miniature satellites whose mission is to impact targeted satellites. Or those AI-controlled systems can also push the targeted satellites away from their trajectory. There have been ideas that the satellites can also be put in a mylar bag, and then the killer satellite can put the targeted satellite in that bag and drop it into the atmosphere. 

https://news.satnews.com/2023/06/18/guardiansat-secures-patent-for-satellite-based-automated-countermeasure-system/

https://www.twz.com/space/space-based-missile-interceptors-for-golden-dome-being-tested-by-northrop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-satellite_weapon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASM-135_ASAT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-105

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime