Space debris and Cyber-space overlaps are emerging threats for which humanity is significantly least prepared today. Most importantly, whether intentional or unintentional, these threats are now construed as national security issues, bringing defense commanders to the discussion table. This broadens the strategy making discussions, beyond space experts, the scientific community, or rescue planners. It is now a matter of national security. Let us understand.
What is Space Debris & How are they National Security?
The sector of space exploration is currently expanding beyond developed countries. It has transformed its scope from being concentrated only on research and development to addressing daily human needs and defense requirements. This includes scores of satellites and modules being sent to outer space. Once their purpose is fulfilled and the assets are no longer economically viable to maintain, countries either abandon them or disintegrate them in space, turning them into space debris.
In 2007, China used an anti-satellite missile and destroyed one of their non-essential weather satellites Fengyun-1C, that created huge quantity of space debris.
“U.S. believes China’s development and testing of such weapons is inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation that both countries aspire to in the civil space area.”
Gordon Johndroe, U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson in 2007
The U.S. & Russia both are also responsible for nearly 15000 Space debris. Countries like France, Japan, European agencies, India are not far behind. In 2009, two Russian satellites (Iridium 33 & Kosmos 2251) collided in outer space at hyper-velocity, resulting in thousands of space debris, that was perceived as dangerous to Chinese satellites in sun-synchronous orbit.
Hence, the creation of these junk pieces in outer space or specific orbits, whether intentional or accidental, poses a direct threat to other operational space assets, that serve specific countries by providing continued access to space and supporting purposes, including for defense, a matter of national security. Air Force’s Space Command of the United States & European Space Agency, as per reports, are tracking over 35,000 pieces of Space debris that have a size more than 10 cm.
Imagine a country losing a space satellite that is intended to track enemy missiles in war situation, due to collision with a floating space debris! Or U.S. losing their GPS Module Satellites, which enables the U.S. both in civilian & national security purposes. That is extremely risky & costly.
In the heat of war or political instability, if one country intentionally uses anti-satellite missile to destroy opponent nation’s civilian or defense asset in space or indirectly causes damage with generation of large quantity of space debris by disintegrating its own defunct space asset, it can trigger a cascade effect, the nightmare, which has been predicted by scientific communities for decade.
What is a Cascade Effect in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of Earth?
A cascade effect caused by Space debris refers to a hypothetical chain reaction of collisions between objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). This phenomenon, also called Kessler syndrome, collisional cascading, or ablation cascade, can lead to exponential growth in space debris. Whether intentional or accidental, once initiated, these collisions can persist for years, resulting in a layer of space junk fragments in Earth’s orbit. This debris can severely impede defense and technological operations on Earth for nearly all countries.
“That’s a double problem because China can take out satellites, and the debris created by those destructions can cause other problems in orbit, it’s a compounding problem we have to figure out”
Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
What is Cyber-Space Overlap and the Associated Risk Factor?
Cyber-space overlap refers to the intersection of cyberspace (digital communication networks and computer systems) and outer space assets (satellite systems and space infrastructure) where they interact and influence each other. This overlap creates vulnerabilities that state or non-state actors can exploit to hack into space assets, potentially compromising capabilities related to communications, space intelligence, tracking and reconnaissance, or monitoring military installations of adversary nations.
The whole game of Jamming, Spoofing, Hacking Satellites, Data stealing go through this sensitive gap, the Cyber-Space Overlap. AI has made it more concerning, asking for specific laws & regulations to promote responsible cyber & AI uses.
In 2022, Atantic Council, released a study, that had mentioned incidents, wherein cyber-criminals attempted to hack into Military Satellite Communication Systems. The 2022 cyberattack on Viasat’s KA-SAT network during the Ukraine conflict disrupted communications across Europe.
Global Coordination, Accords, Policies About Space Debris & Cyber-Space Overlap:
Efforts to address these threats involve collaboration among space agencies and defense departments worldwide:
- The Artemis Accords: Led by NASA, these agreements promote peaceful exploration and responsible behavior in space
- The Outer Space Treaty of 1967: is a treaty that establishes rules for the peaceful use of space. It’s the foundation of international space law.
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA): Encourages international cooperation and debris mitigation practices.
- The Liability Convention: Signed in 1972, this treaty establishes standards for liability for damage caused by space objects
- The Registration Convention: Signed in 1975, this treaty requires countries to register all objects launched into space with the United Nations
- Combined Space Operations (CSpO): A partnership among countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia for sharing space situational awareness (SSA) data.
- Debris Mitigation Guidelines: Policies by entities like the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) recommend minimizing debris generation and deorbiting defunct satellites.
- SSN Systems: Networks like the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) track and predict debris movements.
- Cybersecurity Measures: Encryption protocols and firewalls are increasingly incorporated into satellite designs.
“I love the fact that that Space Force said ‘yes, we’re concerned about picking up debris. But I will tell you the U.S. is woefully behind the rest of the world in this area”
Darren McKnight, senior technical fellow at Leolabs and member of the International Academy of Astronautics’ Space Debris Committee
While challenges such as limited funds in several countries to adhere to the aforementioned accords or to develop infrastructure to address issues like space debris and the misuse of cyber-space overlaps are real and demand attention, collaboration is essential.
“We are very much concerned; this problem can only be solved globally.”
Rolf Densing, director of operations at the European Space Agency (ESA)
The combination of threats from space debris and cyber threats has the potential to knock out traditional defense systems. The clock is ticking, and the risk continues to grow. Let’s not fight a war where no one has internet or geolocation capabilities. Let’s not become digitally blind. We have already polluted the planet; let’s not pollute the Earth’s orbit.
Developed nations, especially the U.S., Russia, China, Europe, India, and Japan, must cooperate to ensure the peaceful use of space and establish norms for professional space behavior.