Space Force Sees Rise in Stealthy Satellite Technology from China and Russia

According to Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, China and Russia are experimenting with stealth technologies aimed at making it harder for radar and telescopes to find their satellites. The Chinese military has been experimenting with shaping microsatellites since 2012, while Russia recently orbited an experimental satellite called Mozhayets in medium Earth orbit with very low visibility. Commercial firms such as LeoLabs and Slingshot have provided critical information about these increasingly stealthy satellites, highlighting the importance of commercial data in tracking their activities.