OVERVIEW: The ASM-135 Anti-Satellite (ASAT) is a solid fueled, three stage, air-to-space missile designed for destroying low-earth orbit satellites by kinetic energy.  

DETAILS: The ASM-135 was designed to be launched from a modified F-15A in a supersonic zoom climb. The F-15's mission computer and heads-up display were modified to provide steering directions for the pilot. A modified Boeing AGM-69 SRAM missile was the first stage of the ASM-135 ASAT. An Altair 3 was the second stage of the ASM-135. The third stage Miniature Homing Vehicle (MHV) was spin-stabilized, and used an IR sensor to guide the MHV to the target.  It used a ring of 56 solid propellant motors mounted on its periphery to adjust its trajectory during the attack phase.  The MHV did not have a warhead.  Rather, it used the kinetic energy of a direct impact with the target satellite to kill it.


NOTES:  The low relative speed of the ASM-135 likely made it suitable only for "head on" engagements with a target satellite.  The ASM-135 was successfully tested against a target satellite in 1985.  Two additional flight tests were made using  stars as targets.  The program was cancelled in 1988. 


SOURCES:  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "ASM-135 ASAT." Accessed November 4, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASM-135_ASAT ; Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, "ASM-135 Anti-Satellite System," 13 October 2011 ; Sven's Space Place. "F15 ASAT." Accessed November 4, 2014. http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/ASAT/F15ASAT.html.

