CWA # 362
Science Diplomacy
Space of Tomorrow: The Need for Space Security
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Srikumar Pullat
19 October 2020
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Photo Source: CSIS
The nature of space is inherently international and therefore engagements in space have a significant influence on a nation’s foreign policy. It therefore becomes crucial to assess the possible fallouts of actions in space and to develop policies and strategies to manage them.
NIAS GP Brief, 19 October 2020
Introduction
The Anti-Satellite Test (ASAT), “Mission Shakti”, conducted by India on 27 March, 2019 caught the attention of the world as well as the Indian audience. An indigenously developed ballistic missile was launched by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), to intercept and destroy an indigenous Microsat-R satellite, which was launched earlier by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Direct Ascent Hit-to-Kill, intercept mission was completed in less than a minute, thereby demonstrating India’s capability to neutralise threats from space-based resources deployed by any of our adversaries. The test was carried out in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO), thus limiting the potential duration of the resultant debris in space, as compared to the larger and longer lasting debris created by a similar Chinese ASAT test conducted in 2007. By conducting the test, India joins a select group of nations (USA, China, Russia) who have so far successfully demonstrated the capability.
The event evoked a mixed response from national and international community. The national audience received the news with pride and delight. Some sections of the international audience may have accepted the development with certain amount of admiration. However, several nations and organisations have expressed their concerns that such events will lead to an unhealthy competition among nations, leaving behind unmanageable levels of debris in the outer space.
Space Environment
It is an accepted fact that the space environment unfolding in the future is entirely different from what exists now and what was there in the early years of space activity following the first space launch of Sputnik satellite by USSR in 1957. The decades immediately after the second world war saw a ‘space race’ essentially between USA and USSR. The European Space Agency (ESA), consisting of 10 European nations, was set up in 1975. Today, more than 70 nations have invested in space, and this number will increase in the coming years. At present there are more than 2000 man-made satellites orbiting the earth. The space-faring nations will continue to launch satellites, in order to replace the existing ones, to service the ever-increasing requirements, new experimental satellites, to refurbish supplies to space station(s), new inter-planetary missions and deep space explorations.
Starting with the satellite “Aryabhata”, launched in 1975 from Kourou, the satellite launch centre of ESA, and the maiden flight of the indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), launched in 1979 from Sriharikota, the Indian satellite launch centre, ISRO has conducted more than a hundred spacecraft missions over the last four-and-a-half decades. These include launches of indigenously designed application satellites using European, Russian and American launch vehicles, using Indian launch vehicles like PSLV and GSLV for launching Indian satellites as well as satellites developed by other countries. The satellites launched by ISRO include those developed by them and by students. The prominent feathers in ISRO’s cap include two re-entry missions (2007, 2014), two Chandrayaan missions (2008, 2019), the Mangalyan mission (2014), a world record 104 of satellites (2017). Currently, preparations are in full swing for the country’s first indigenous manned mission called Gaganyaan planned for 2022. In the coming years ISRO is gearing up to conduct at least 18 launches every year.
At present India has more than 50 satellites operational in space, comprising of earth observation satellites, communication satellites, navigation satellites and scientific satellites. Depending on the application, the satellites are positioned in sun-synchronous polar orbits (SSPO), Geo-synchronous Orbits (GSO) or Low Earth Orbits (LEO). ISRO is also preparing to carry out the maiden launch using a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from a new launch station coming up in Thoothukodi in Tamil Nadu. Small satellite launch vehicles are being developed by DRDO and private industry also. Start-ups and private entrepreneurs are adding to the indigenous satellite building capacity.
The past decade has also witnessed phenomenal developments in space activities with the entry of private players from several nations. With enterprises like SpaceX and OneWeb planning to launch large constellations of satellites, the number of objects in space is expected to rise exponentially. Private enterprises are also investing in asteroid mining and inter-planetary missions to tap the commercial prospects of these resources. Space tourism is another activity, with private players investing in the field. Issues of safety, reliability and liabilities, arising from space tourism need to be addressed at national and international levels. While space resources are expected to be global commons, these commercial activities contribute to significant increase in traffic congestion in space, consisting of Autonomous missions and Human missions. This, in conjunction with the problems created by space debris affects the safe operations of space-based resources.
Need for Space Security
Space assets are vulnerable to different types of threats like co-orbital inspection and attack by other satellites, Direct Ascent interception by ground-based or air-launched missiles, ground-based, air-based or space-based Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), and Jamming, Spoofing and Cyber-attacks initiated from ground, Air or Space. Robotic technology, developed for peaceful uses like servicing and repair of in-orbit satellites and debris removal, can also be used for aggressive applications like capture of adversary’s satellite. USA, Russia and China have carried out extensive Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) using their own space assets both in LEO and GEO.
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About the Author
Professor Srikumar Pullat works on mission simulation for UAVs, systems engineering and systems analysis of aeronautical systems at the International Strategic and Security Studies Programme in NIAS. He has served at the Aeronautical Development Establishment in DRDO for over three decades and led the team in developing the Nirbhay cruise missile in 2014. Currently, he is the Head of the International Startegic and Security Programme (ISSSP), at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
