Current and Future Anti-satellite Technologies
Laura Grego, Union of Concerned Scientists
Which ASAT technologies? Criteria
• Qualitative changes, technology is maturing
• Quantitative changes, stockpiling and
proliferation
• Potential to create or exacerbate a crisis
between nuclear-armed states.
Ground-based lasers
Significant differences
between low-power and high-power
laser weapons
Closely approaching satellites
Chinese BX-1: 40 kg, 40 cm cube
NASA’s DART: 400 kg, 2 m long,
1 m diameter
Hit-to-kill
missile defenses
US Aegis ship-based ballistic missile
defense ASAT capability
Goals
• Engage the political, technical, military,
commercial stakeholders in a vigorous
discussion—get “skin in the game”
• Find solutions that improve stability,
predictability, open the lines of
communication, provide accurate and timely
information, allow actions to have clearly
understood motivations and consequences