Russia plans to publish a list of all United States' in-orbit satellites, even secret spy satellites not acknowledged to exist by the U.S., as part of an effort to "level the playing field" in space. This list might be made public in 2017.

Russia said it's already revealed the existence of all its commercial and military satellites and this data is already public knowledge. Russia believes the U.S. should do the same in the interests of transparency.

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The U.S. is known to have in-orbit military spy satellites whose existence it neither confirms nor denies. It might also have what are called "dark satellites," which seem to be military satellites to be activated in case of a war. Russia in the past has alleged these satellites exist and are actually anti-satellite (ASAT) satellites.

Russia also proposes all data about satellites, whether operational or derelict, be stored in a database to be protected and managed by the United Nations. It suggests this database be used for collecting, systemizing, sharing and analyzing information on objects and events in space.

Media reports said Russia made these proposals at a meeting of the recent UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna. COPUOS was set up by the UN General Assembly in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development. 

Russia also said it will make public the database of satellites it's tracking. This database will also include information about military satellites used by the U.S. and its allies.

Russia claims its telescopes and tracking systems can detect 40 percent more space objects than those in databases made public by the Americans. This means the Americans are hiding many of its military satellites and refusing to acknowledge them.

There are anywhere from 1,000 to 1,400 operational in-orbit satellites. Russia estimates 149 of these sats are U.S. military or are "joint use" satellites that can have either civilian or military applications.

Israel has nine military satellites; the UK, seven; France, eight and Germany, seven. Russia has an estimated 75 military and joint use satellites. China might have some 35 milsats.

TagsRussia, United States, Satellites, ASAT, UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space