(CNN) US assesses Russia likely launched a counter space weapon last week.
For a description of a conventional, non-nuclear weapon, see Mysterious Russian satellite; It’s a Tristatic Locator.
The Russian weapon inevitably enjoys a cost exchange advantage over the largest category of U.S. spy satellites; cost translates directly to capabilities. Optics for the largest birds require multiple years to manufacture. Several possible mitigations exist:
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Stealth, which is already in use.
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Transition to platforms with unpredictable mobility (large Delta-v budget), such as the Boeing X-37 space plane.
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Low cost satellites, with severely reduced capability.