Project SAINT in the 1960s looked at some non-destructive ASAT techniques such as spraying paint over camera ports. The idea being that it would be a deniable,

Project SAINT in the 1960s looked at some non-destructive ASAT techniques such as spraying paint over camera ports. The idea being that it would be a deniable, non-escalating type of attack. However the technology required to manoeuvre that closely to the target was more sophisticated than a stand-off kinetic attack, which was also less detectable in execution.