Assessing the PRC's intentions and current state of its space program is difficult at best; the challenge is equally hard for most other nations as well. Gen Richard B. Myers, former commander in chief, US Space Command, believed the US intelligence community currently has a gap in tracking the abilities of countries, especially developing ones, to create ASAT weapons. This deficit has created some uncertainty about the threat facing our nation's space forces. The United States' ability to observe the testing, launch, orbit, and use of satellite communications between surface and space is within the realm of today's capabilities. However, if foreign countries take steps to shield or disguise their space activities, then our intelligence-gathering agencies will face a difficult challenge in detecting and assessing those capabilities.

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Chun, Clayton K. S. Shooting Down a Star: Program 437, the U.S. Nuclear ASAT System and Present Day Copycat Killers. Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Air University, April 2000. [ 11 quotes ] [ page 67-8 ]