Satellite surveillance technology is absolutely vital to modern military intelligence. INtricate tracking satellites must be maintained and repaired on site, and as Cobra's network of "eyes-in-the-sky" grows older, more and more repairs are needed, necessitating more technicians capable of withstanding repeated high-G launches and enduring long terms in orbit. Among Cobra’s vast array of specialized infantry forces, few besides the TARGATs are qualified for duty in the dangerous voids of space. The ASTRO-VIPERS are the some of the only soldiers capable of withstanding repeated G-force launch and extensive tours of duty orbiting the Earth. They were recruited from the ranks of the Strato-Vipers, who are naturally and artificially conditioned for high-altitude flying and G-force maneuvering.