Space Militarization and the New Strategic Frontier

 Introduction

Countries have been in the pursuit of land, sea, and air control since times immemorial. The race reaches to the outer space today. Previously an area of exploration and technologic collaboration, space has turned in a short period of time into a battlefield of military rivalry and strategic desire.

One of the most significant changes in the global security is the militarization of space. Missiles are now guided by satellites, communications managed and surveillance is also made possible. Whoever dominates space, according to many strategists, dominates the Earth.

The history of Space Militarization.

Militarization of space had started at the time of the Cold War when the U.S and the Soviet Union had launched satellites that could be used as reconnaissance and also as a missile warning. The introduction of the Sputnik in 1957 did not only mark the start of scientific achievements but this was also the start of the strategic competition in space.

By 1980s, both superpowers had already tested anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, and there were concerns that space might become the second battlefield. In a bid to avoid the possibility of a conflict, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 was signed, and it forbade the introduction of weapons of mass destruction to the orbit.

Nevertheless, the treaty reduced nuclear weapons in space only; it did not prohibit conventional and electronic ones, and nowadays, these gaps are used by the modern powers.

The Strategic Significance of Space Resources.

The contemporary military activities depend on space. The command, control, and intelligence will not be able to work without global Positioning Systems (GPS), communication satellites, and early-warning sensors.

Modern warfare is space-based, as it relies on space technology to coordinate the battlefield in real-time or to deliver striking shots to precise targets with precision-guided munitions. Even the shutdown of some of the crucial satellites would put military and economic systems on their knees.

This reliance renders space as a strength and a weakness at the same time, a lucrative object of attack during the period of warfare.

Strategic Risks and Anti-Satellite Weapons.

In the recent years, several countries have been capable of ASAT. The 2007 missile test conducted in China that led to the destruction of a weather satellite caused the formation of thousands of fragments of debris which underscore the risks of weaponizing space. In 2019, India has followed with its own ASAT test and the U.S and Russia are still perfecting their systems.

Such developments are a dangerous escalation. Space debris poses a threat to the military and all space activities including civilian and commercial satellites. The larger the number of countries developing weapons in space, the higher the chances of a runaway chain reaction of debris impact, the Kessler Syndrome, in which the collisions of debris make the orbits unusable.

The Emergence of New Players and the Business Space Race.

Space is no longer the prerogative of super powers. Access to orbit has been changed by the entrance of the private companies to space, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and OneWeb. Their large networks of satellites such as Starlink have revolutionized communications throughout the world and even helped in military actions, such as in Ukraine.

Nonetheless, the introduction of commercialization of space brings to play new security issues. The fusion of civilian and military resources creates confusion between the traditional boundaries and legal and ethical concerns regarding ownership, liability and neutrality in space.

New ideologies of Space Power.

Space is quickly becoming part of the defense strategies of nations. In 2019, the Space Force was created by the U.S. because space is considered an independent area of warfighting. China and Russia have not been left behind as they have been interested in dominance of space and counter-space.

The new philosophy of Space Control provides not just safeguarding the possessions, but also depriving the enemy with the space When it is required. Such an attitude will put the universe in the next stage of geopolitical competition.

The Legal and Ethical Vacuum

International law is still behind the technological advancement even though there is an increase in militarization. The provisions presented in the Outer Space Treaty are outdated, although it offers a basis. No binding regulations exist against the use of conventional weapons in orbit or the running of ASAT tests.

The attempts of the UN to put down the "Rules of the Road" on the space behavior have not been successful as the major powers do not want to be restricted that may reduce their freedom of movement. The outcome is the legal vacuum in which competition is free to play.

The Future of Space Security

Cooperation, transparency and responsible behavior are the keys to the future of space security. Misperceptions can be minimized through confidence-building measures like data sharing, tracking and communication hotlines.

Simultaneously, new treaties should be based on the new realities of today since they should deal with commercial actors, emerging technologies, and new military applications of space.

The conception of space as a global commons should not be forgotten. The future of humanity in space lies in being able to maintain the peaceful nature of humanity and strike a balance between national security.

Conclusion

Militarization of space is both a potential and a threat. It is a human expansion of power outside of planet Earth, but also creates a threat of sending our competitions into space.

In a world where satellites and space based systems are becoming more important and more dependent, stability in the orbit is critical to peace on the earth. The need of the 21 st century is not a space exploration- but space management.