The capability exhibited by Maxar and other commercial companies in the NEI field is distinct from the recent actions of some military spacecraft, such as Russia’s Kosmos 2612, which deliberately maneuvered to approach a US-registered radar imaging satellite earlier this month. Commercial NEI observations come from chance encounters, often at extremely high speed.

Pew-pew with DEWs

The DIA’s assessment of space threats includes an update on China’s pursuit of anti-satellite technology, or “counterspace” weapons. The intelligence agency reported the Chinese military likely considers directed-energy weapons (DEWs) “ideal counterspace systems” because they can be used to permanently or temporarily disable a satellite. One potential use for lasers in space would be to dazzle a sensor on an adversary’s satellite.

“China has multiple ground-based laser weapons with varying power levels to disrupt, degrade, or damage satellites in LEO,” the DIA said.…