Even today, there everything is still not known about this system. During the test period there were two types of the satellites used in the system – active – real killers (a.k.a. Istrebitel which means killer), and passive – targets.

The first test of the IS – under the name of "Polyot-1" and "Polyot-2" were conducted in 1963 and 1964. The main purpose of those launches was to test the feasibility of on the orbital maneuvers and multiple ignitions of the engines.

Subsequently there were 19 "target" tests and 22 IS (Killer) tests. These lasted until June 18, 1982. The system was "accepted" as "standard" in 1972.

The actual system was comprised not only of ISs and "targets" but also on-ground radar systems for "Space environment Control", targeting on-ground centers, Command and control and so on. These were all constructed by 1972.

On March 23,1983 Secretary General Of Communist Party Politburo Yuri Andropov announced that ASAT system design and construction in the Soviet Union would cease. This was a show of good faith for then President Reagan who had just started SDI – But SDI proceeded none the lessen – so the Soviet government stopped "the moratorium" in September 1986. The USA ceased SDI program in 1988.

There have been no tests of the Soviet ASAT system since June 1982 – however, in April 1991 there was a Russian Government Decree "to accept for the exploitation a complex of anti-space defense – IS".

The ISs tested in the 70's were ready for launch within 90 minutes (using a Tsiklon booster), and could approach an enemy "target" within 40- 50 minutes and hit with an accuracy of approximately 1 kilometer.

All IS tests, beyond the first two, were under the name of "Cosmos" satellites (## 217, 248, 249, 252, 291, 316, 373, 374, 375, 394, 397, 404, 459, 462, 521, 803, 804, 814, 839, 843, 880, 909, 910, 918, 959, 961, 967, 970, 1169, 1174, 1241, 1243, 1258, 1379)

The Kosmos-1379 IS successfully "hit" a target that was a mock-up of a "Transit" – an American communication satellite!