The Soviet Union, which has characterized next...

The Soviet Union, which has characterized next week’s U.S. launch of an intelligence satellite as “preparation for Star Wars,” boosted a similar satellite into space 3 1/2 months ago, Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. American analysts believe the Soviet satellite “is a new electronic intelligence-gathering vehicle positioned in an orbit frequently overflying the U.S. to intercept radio communications and data,” the magazine said. The Air Force’s Space Defense Operations Center at Colorado Springs said the satellite is in a 530-mile-high orbit.