Antisatellitt

Antisatellitt, or anti-satellite weapons (ASAT), are systems intended to disable, disrupt, or destroy satellites and their missions. ASAT capabilities span kinetic and non-kinetic methods, including physical interception, directed energy, electronic warfare, and cyber approaches. They can target satellites across different orbits, from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit, and may aim for temporary jamming or permanent disablement.

Kinetic ASAT involve interceptors or projectiles that collide with a target satellite, often producing debris that can threaten other space assets. Non-kinetic approaches include directed-energy weapons such as high-energy lasers or microwave devices to degrade sensors or electronics, as well as electronic warfare techniques like jamming or spoofing, and cyber methods that disrupt satellite control or communications. Co-orbital ASAT strategies use a separate spacecraft to approach and affect or take control of a target satellite.

History and context have evolved from early Cold War research to more visible demonstrations and tests in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Notable incidents, such as dramatic on-orbit destruction of satellites in a few countries, underscored the debris and collision risks inherent in space operations. The rise of large satellite constellations has amplified attention to ASAT capabilities and space security.

Legal and policy frameworks are evolving. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 sets broad principles for peaceful use of outer space but does not ban conventional ASAT weapons. Debris mitigation, transparency, and norms of responsible behavior have become central to international discussions, shaping defenses, space debris management, and cooperative space situational awareness efforts.