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There are more than 7,500 operational satellites orbiting the Earth, according to figures obtained by CNN in a long-read on the risk of a space war. America owns more than 5,000 (most are commercial), followed by China (628) and Russia (under 200). As these countries compete for influence on Earth, there is also a hustle to reduce US military satellite superiority, with Russia and China developing “counterspace” technology that could target each others’ assets. Last week, the US accused Russia of launching a “counterspace weapon” into the same orbit as a US government satellite, while both countries have proposed rival resolutions at the UN Security Council on the use of weapons in space (neither passed). Bottom line: look up.