This is John Bachelor, conversation with my colleague Henry Sikalski in Non-Delivation Policy Education Center, the Executive Director, about Russian anti-satellite weapons, two of them.

One denied by the Kremlin as recently as February of 2024, said to be capable

of taking a nuclear weapon into space, detonating that and damaging all the surveillance and communication satellites in reach,

perhaps all of them in low-Earth orbit.

The more recent launch of an anti-satellite weapon is what Henry is going to address here.

What we know, what we can guess about an anti-satellite weapon that's called an inspector satellite

or a space tug, that's the language of

commercial space something that can refuel or reposition satellites in orbit and

also damage as Henry explains.

Henry Sikalski, non-proliferation policy education center,

the most recent launch by Russ Cosmos

of an anti-satellite weapon that of course the Kremlin denies

they launched. More of this later. The second

a set is in space.

It is not nuclear, but it is clear and present danger

because it is very close to some of the most sensitive American military satellites in low-Earth

orbit and it doesn't belong there.

And we can only speculate, but it appears as though it's what's called a rendezvous satellite,

one that can get very close and play around with antenna paint lenses and optics so they can't see, possibly

denting or damaging things, you know, any number of kill mechanisms or repair mechanisms if you will.

It can even reposition the satellite to put it out of its proper location.