Opponets of arms control argue that these treaties cannot be verified because surface-to-air missiles, manned capsules, and even the space shuttle all have some residual anti-satellite capability. Although true in a strict sense, opponents of such a ban seldom differentiate the threat posed by the residual capability of these systems and past ASAT tests from the threat posed by unrestricted development of anti-satellite weapons. The residual threat posed by existing systems is quite limited. First, the existing ASATs were designed and tested only in low earth orbit. Although many important satellites are located in low earth orbit, many other important systems are safely out of range in medium earth orbit and geo-synchronous orbit. Some systems in low-earth orbit might be moved to slightly higer orbits as imaging and electronic intelligence capabilities improve.

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Lewis, Jeffrey. "Rumsfeld Aims for the Stars: An Arms Control Alternative to the Pentagon's Plans in Space." Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. (Winter/Spring 2002). [ 6 quotes ] [ page 116 ]