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
