space weapons

A-SAT missiles will give new strength to India's space programme.

N. Modi, 2019

So what is a space weapon and

what does it mean to weaponise space?

The 2008 Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects, jointly proposed by Russia and China, contains a fairly comprehensive definition of what constitutes a space weapon:

“... any outer space object or its component produced or converted to eliminate, damage or disrupt normal functioning of objects in outer space, on the Earth's surface or in the air...”

Many experts argue that any device which is designed to incapacitate space-borne assets, or which even just enters space to reach its target, also counts as a space weapon. Therefore 'weaponisation of outer space' could be broadly understood to include:

Offensive technology operating in orbit which targets either space or Earth

AND

Earth-based weapons which target objects in space.

Weaponisation of space is innate to counterspace capacities, which are the means to use space for one’s own purposes, while denying it to others. They embody both defensive and offensive efforts. The Secure World Foundation categorises offensive counterspace capabilities into:

Direct Ascent

Earth-based weapons that use physical force to

destroy satellites.

Co-orbital

Weapons placed in orbit that can manoeuvre to

approach the target.

Electronic Warfare

Used to interfere with or jam satellite

communication capabilities.

Directed Energy

I.e. lasers, used to incapacitate or interfere

with satellites.

Cyber

Use software and network techniques to interfere

with or destroy computer systems.

While Russia has successfully tested kinetic co-orbital weapons during the cold war, and the USA, China, and India have all successfully demonstrated direct ascent capabilities, there are currently no known devices, intentionally designed for offensive purposes in Earth’s orbit. However, it has been confirmed that these countries and others are developing a variety of counterspace technologies.

A diagram showing the various types of space-based anti-satellite weapons. (Image Credit: US Defence Intelligence Agency)

In fact, despite the Outer Space Treaty limitation of “exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes”, military presence in space exploration has been widely accepted from the outset.

Moreover, the huge advancements in space-technology over the last few decades have resulted in militaries increasingly relying on satellites for communications and all sorts of strategems, e.g. situational awareness, direct bombing raids, or the orchestration of a prompt global strike.

Historically, there has always been broad international opposition to space weapons, as well as support for the creation of a legal instrument banning their implementation. However, for that purpose there is a need for a legal definition of a 'space weapon' and for decades a consensus on one has not been reached. Therefore, regrettably, very little progress has been made in achieving this goal.

space debris

Some counterspace weapons have a huge potential to proliferate space debris. Click here to find out why debris pose danger, even on Earth.

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