Why Space Security Matters?
Global dependence on space for military purposes and activities such as environmental monitoring, navigation, and communication has been intensified. This increased reliance has led to concerns regarding the safe space exploration and operational security of satellites, particularly communication satellites, which are stationed in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Space operations face a growing issue of the accumulation of space debris. One of the sources of space debris is the anti-satellite (ASAT) tests. During an ASAT test, a satellite is destroyed, producing thousands of fragments known as space debris, which can remain in orbit for years.
Emergence of ASAT Capabilities
The ASAT capabilities emerged during the Cold War, which was characterized by intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. The successful launch of the satellite named Sputnik 1 in 1957 by the Soviet Union not only paved the way for the space age but also fueled military interest in space. In the late 1950s, the US developed Bold Orion—its first ASAT system. In response, the Soviet Union developed its ASAT system called the co-orbital ASAT.
In 1985, the US successfully destroyed a satellite with the ASM-135 program. Similarly, China and India conducted successful ASAT tests in 2007 and 2019, respectively. The tests resulted in significant production of space debris. In 2021, Russia destroyed Kosmos-1408, resulting in approximately 1,500 traceable fragments of debris.
The Dilemma of Orbital Space Debris: How ASAT Tests Pose a Risk
The ASAT weapon has a dual nature, meaning it can be used for both peaceful and military purposes, although it also has repercussions. ASAT can serve as both a deterrent and have the potential to escalate conflicts by crippling the space infrastructure, including GPS, communications, and early warning systems of an adversary. The ASAT tests involve the deliberate destruction of satellites. Additionally, these tests demonstrate the military capability and technological advancement of states.
Space debris, including large and small pieces of destroyed satellites from ASAT tests, along with other space objects, poses a serious threat to operational satellites, especially in LEO. These fragments move in orbits with very high velocity, increasing the risks of colliding with other satellites, usually the communication satellites, which are stationed in a highly congested orbital environment in LEO. The small pieces of debris can prove to be disastrous by disrupting global communication networks, weather forecasting systems, and military operations. This situation raises growing concerns about the security and sustainability of space infrastructure.
Environmental Consequences
The amount of space debris generated by anti-satellite testing, along with other satellite debris, could have an environmental impact through its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. It has the potential to exacerbate ozone depletion due to chemical emissions. In addition, the increased risk of collisions has the potential for Kessler Syndrome, a phenomenon in which debris collisions create more debris.
Limitations of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967
The law that governs space-related activities is based on international treaties. The Outer Space Treaty, advocating for the peaceful use of outer space, was signed in 1967. However, this treaty does not address anti-satellite (ASAT) testing and the growing problem of space debris, which acts as a significant limitation in the effectiveness of the treaty.
Although the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to temporarily halt the direct-ascent ASAT tests, it wasn’t supported by the major spacefaring nations, including China, Russia, and India. The anti-satellite (ASAT) testing by the world’s major powers, namely the USA, Russia, China, and India, underscores the existing gaps in the current legal framework and contradicts the Outer Space Treaty’s goal of sustainable exploration.
US Unilateral Ban on ASAT Tests
The space debris from a single ASAT test can remain in orbit for decades, potentially causing collisions in the already congested orbital environment. Moreover, such actions can provoke a series of responses from other nations to showcase their technological prowess as well, which in turn would cause more debris, consequently damaging safe space exploration. It will lead to a destabilizing arms race in space.
The US recognized this issue and unilaterally banned the destructive, direct-ascent ASAT missile tests. This aims to establish a norm and encourage other nations to take similar measures, creating a global norm for responsible behavior in outer space. This move by the US was supported by states like Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and Germany. These countries refrained from destructive direct-ascent ASAT testing, highlighting a growing consensus on the need for responsible behavior in space. Framing space debris as a security issue, the US has securitized it as a global threat and necessitated measures such as banning destructive ASAT tests.
China, on the other hand, has expressed intentions to collaborate on global space and participated in international forums such as the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), where it has committed to conducting space activities in accordance with established guidelines. Space as a global commons has potential for cooperation due to shared interests.
Space-faring nations have deployed satellites in low Earth orbit, and the increasing space debris poses risks to their functionality. The collision risks can damage satellites. Satellites with collision avoidance manoeuvres and systems may need to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid potential collisions with tracked debris. These maneuvers disrupt normal operations, lead to increased fuel consumption, and reduce the satellite’s operational lifespan.
The risks posed by space debris transcend national boundaries, threatening all nations’ ability to operate in space. While the US has taken a more cautious approach by committing to avoid destructive ASAT tests, and it is supported by some states, China and Russia did not take the same stance, but addressed the issue of space debris by the establishment of guidelines.
Reimagining Space Exploration as a Shared Responsibility
The increasingly growing space activities with technological advancements, such as anti-satellite (ASAT) technologies, necessitate developing a comprehensive and cooperative framework to protect space assets so that the sustainability of the orbital environment can be maintained. The accumulation of space debris requires global action.
Although innovations, such as AI-driven autonomous robotic capture and laser nudging, have been made to address orbital debris, the proliferation of space debris through ASAT tests remains an unresolved source of space junk. Existing orbital debris is being captured and removed from orbit through active debris removal technologies; however, without preemptive strategies to limit the generation of new debris, such as that generated by destructive ASAT tests, debris remediation will become an endless endeavor. Current space debris mitigation strategies are based on voluntary best practices but do not comprehensively address the deliberate space debris creation through ASAT tests.
Thus, a legally binding, multilateral treaty prohibiting destructive ASAT testing can complement the current space debris removal technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability of orbital environments. Hence, it portrays shared responsibility for preserving space as a safe and sustainable domain for peaceful uses.
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