The Secure World Foundation has released an updated set of 11 fact sheets that document anti-satellite (ASAT) testing in space and robotic rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs) conducted for military and intelligence purposes, which together have generated concerns from many countries about the increasingly contested nature of space. The fact sheets are based on research conducted as part of the annual SWF Global Counterspace Capabilities Report.
The first set of fact sheets cover testing of ASAT weapons in space by the following countries:
- Chinese Direct Ascent Anti-satellite Testing
- Indian Direct Ascent Anti-satellite Testing
- Russian Co-orbital Anti-satellite Testing
- Russian Direct Ascent Anti-satellite Testing
- U.S. Direct Ascent Anti-satellite Testing
- U.S. Co-orbital Anti-satellite Testing
We have also provided an updated version of our fact sheet on the U.S. X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) program. While not a dedicated ASAT weapons system itself, the X-37B has generated significant international controversy and has engaged in abnormal activity on-orbit:
A second set of updated fact sheets summarize the history of robotic RPO programs done by the United States, Russia, and China for military or intelligence purposes that are not directly associated with ASAT testing:
- Chinese Military and Intelligence Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
- Russian Military and Intelligence Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
- U.S. Military and Intelligence Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
Finally, we have updated a separate fact sheet summarizing the commercial and civil robotic RPO activities that could potentially be misconstrued as a military capability: