How Is U.S. Space Power Jeopardized by an Adversary's Exploitation, Technological Developments, Employment and Engagement of Laser Antisatellite Weapons?

This research project discusses how an adversary's exploitation, technological developments, employment and engagement of laser antisatellite (ASAT) weapons may negatively impact the US ability to use space power to enhance terrestrial warfighting capability. After describing some exploitable, attractive laser weapon characteristics, the paper explains some laser lethality factors relating several key laser weapon parameters, such as range, pointing jitter, atmospheric attenuation, dwell time and target coupling. How ground-, air- and space-based lasers can theoretically be employed against space assets to inflict soft and hard satellite kills is also briefly discussed. Next, applicable US treaties and political considerations about laser ASAT weapons are presented. Finally, unclassified sources are used to assess the current level of laser ASAT weapons threat to US space assets and propose how an adversaries' laser ASAT weapons can jeopardize US space power's ability to enhance terrestrial warfighting.