At a reporters' roundtable during the Space Symposium in Colorado Spring, Colo., Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne outlined a few threats facing the constellations of satellite -- civil and military -- supporting the Pentagon and the U.S. economy.

The most near-term, he says, comes from lasers on the ground. Wynne says weak, hand held lasers have proliferated widely -- so much so that Air Force pilots on approach for landing in bases near Iraq are widely being lased, he says. So many instances of lasing in the cockpit have taken place, that Wynne says pilots carry the eyesafe gear with them, and often don their shades for an added measure of safety. Wynne noted that there was a popular song in the '80s about that (I Wear My Sunglasses at Night -- for those of you who aren't as hip as Wynne).

In addition to lasers, Wynne said denial of service attacks through computer networks are on the rise. These can cripple space systems from the ground.

Also of concern is the direct ascent ASAT threat as well as a co-orbital threat.

Here's a podcast of his comments (4:46)