1.   Because all that debris is traveling at thousands of miles an hour, the possibility of a collision severe enough to destroy a satellite is a real one.

2.   A more narrow treaty might be feasible, one that bans only systems specifically designed to destroy satellites.

3.   But that satellite was destroyed on launching in China.

4.   Experts say that the Russians may have powerful lasers on the ground that could damage or destroy satellites in orbit.

5.   The Defense Department said the test would not destroy the satellite, produce orbital debris or pose any risk to other spacecraft.

6.   The test would be a step toward perfecting a weapon that could destroy satellites in war, an ability the Pentagon increasingly wants as orbital spies multiply.

7.   Earlier this year, two Soyuz launches failed, destroying the satellites they were supposed to carry into orbit.

8.   The satellite was destroyed.

9.   Two German satellites were destroyed with it.