{"id":125012,"date":"2026-09-18T11:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T05:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=125012"},"modified":"2026-09-18T11:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T05:54:19","slug":"weaponisation-of-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/weaponisation-of-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Weaponisation of Space, Types, Threats, India\u2019s Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Weaponisation of Space<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> refers to the development, deployment or use of technologies that can be used to attack, disrupt, damage or destroy satellites and other space-based systems. With countries increasingly depending on satellites for communication, navigation, weather forecasting, intelligence and military operations, space has become an important domain of strategic competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has also strengthened its <\/span><b>Space Situational Awareness (SSA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> capabilities. ISRO&#8217;s latest Indian Space Situational Awareness Report for 2025 highlighted continued work under <\/span><b>Project NETRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including the development of tracking infrastructure and measures for sustainable use of outer space.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why is Space Becoming a Security Domain?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The growing dependence on <\/span><b>satellites for communication, navigation, surveillance, intelligence and military operations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has made space an important domain of national security.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Military dependence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Satellites support communication, navigation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Critical infrastructure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Civilian services such as telecommunications, weather forecasting, banking and disaster management rely on space-based systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic competition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Major space powers are developing <\/span><b>counter-space and anti-satellite capabilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dual-use technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many civilian satellites and technologies can also serve military purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Growing cyber threats:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Satellites and ground stations can be targeted through <\/span><b>cyberattacks, jamming and spoofing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk of conflict:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> An attack on a country&#8217;s space assets could disrupt both military operations and essential civilian services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Space debris:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Destructive activities in orbit can create debris and increase the risk of collisions with other satellites.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Major Types of Space Weaponisation<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Space weaponisation includes both physical and non-physical methods used to attack, disrupt or disable satellites and other space-based systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Designed to destroy or disable satellites through physical impact or other means.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Direct-Ascent ASAT Weapons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Launched from the ground to directly intercept and destroy satellites in orbit, potentially creating large amounts of space debris.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Co-orbital Weapons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Placed into orbit and capable of approaching another satellite to inspect, interfere with, disable or damage it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Electronic Warfare:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Uses <\/span><b>jamming and spoofing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to disrupt satellite communication and navigation signals without physically destroying the satellite.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cyberattacks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Target satellites, ground stations and control networks to disrupt operations, manipulate data or interfere with communication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Directed-Energy Weapons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Technologies such as <\/span><b>high-powered lasers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can interfere with satellite sensors or potentially damage space-based systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Satellite-Based Weapons:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Systems deployed in space that could potentially be used to target other satellites or provide military capabilities directly from orbit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Major Threats from Weaponisation of Space<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The weaponisation of space can threaten satellites, critical services and national security while increasing the risk of <\/span><b>space debris, conflict escalation and an arms race in outer space<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Space Debris:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Destruction of satellites can create large amounts of debris that may damage other spacecraft. For example, <\/span><b>China&#8217;s 2007 ASAT test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against the Fengyun-1C satellite generated thousands of debris fragments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Communication and Navigation Disruption:<\/b> <b>Jamming, spoofing or cyberattacks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can interfere with satellite communication and navigation services, affecting military operations, aviation, shipping and civilian users.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Threat to Military Operations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Modern militaries depend on satellites for <\/span><b>surveillance, intelligence, communication and navigation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Disabling these systems can reduce a country&#8217;s ability to monitor and respond to security threats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk of Conflict Escalation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> An attack on a satellite could be interpreted as a major act of aggression and may escalate a conflict on Earth. The dual-use nature of many satellites makes it difficult to separate <\/span><b>civilian and military space infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic and Civilian Impact:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Disruption of satellite services can affect <\/span><b>telecommunications, banking, weather forecasting, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/disaster-management-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">disaster management<\/a> and transport<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A space conflict can therefore have consequences far beyond the military domain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arms Race and Space Sustainability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Competition to develop <\/span><b>ASAT weapons and other counter-space technologies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can encourage an arms race. At the same time, repeated debris-producing activities can threaten the long-term sustainable use of Earth&#8217;s orbital environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>International Legal Framework<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The international legal framework governing outer space is mainly based on <\/span><b>UN treaties, principles and resolutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aimed at ensuring the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of outer space.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Outer Space Treaty, 1967:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is the basic legal framework for international space activities. It prohibits countries from placing <\/span><b>nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in orbit around Earth. It also prohibits the establishment of military bases, installations and fortifications on the Moon and other celestial bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Peaceful Use of Outer Space:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The treaty establishes that the <\/span><b>Moon and other celestial bodies should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, the treaty does not prohibit all military activities in outer space.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>No National Appropriation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> States cannot claim sovereignty or ownership over <\/span><b>outer space, the Moon or other celestial bodies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Space is considered the province of all humankind and should remain open for exploration and use by all states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>State Responsibility:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Countries are internationally responsible for their activities in outer space, including activities carried out by <\/span><b>private companies and other non-governmental entities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. States must authorise and continuously supervise such activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Liability Convention, 1972:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> establishes rules for liability when a space object causes damage. The launching state can be held absolutely liable for damage caused on Earth or to aircraft in flight.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Registration Convention, 1975:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Countries are required to register space objects launched into orbit and provide relevant information to the <\/span><b>UN Secretary-General<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This improves transparency and helps identify responsibility for space objects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rescue Agreement, 1968:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It requires states to provide assistance to astronauts in distress and facilitate their safe return. It also provides for the return of space objects or their components found outside the territory of the launching state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Moon Agreement, 1979:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It establishes additional principles for activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies. It states that the Moon and its natural resources are the <\/span><b>common heritage of humankind<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and should not become the property of any state or private entity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>India&#8217;s Approach to Space Security<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India&#8217;s approach to <\/span><b>space security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> focuses on protecting critical space assets, improving Space Situational Awareness, developing indigenous capabilities and promoting the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mission-shakthisat\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mission Shakti<\/a>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In March 2019, India successfully conducted an <\/span><b>Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, demonstrating its capability to protect its space assets against potential threats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Space Situational Awareness:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India is strengthening its ability to track satellites, space debris and other objects through <\/span><b>Project NETRA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and related observation and tracking systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>IS4OM:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/isro-missions-list\/\" target=\"_blank\">ISRO System<\/a> for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> monitors space objects, assesses collision risks and supports the safe operation of Indian satellites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Defence Space Agency:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Defence Space Agency (DSA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> coordinates the country&#8217;s defence-related space activities and works towards enhancing capabilities in space-based communication, surveillance and reconnaissance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Space-based Surveillance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India is expanding the use of satellites for <\/span><b>border surveillance, intelligence gathering, communication, navigation and disaster management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Satellite Protection:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Greater focus is being placed on improving the resilience of satellites against <\/span><b>jamming, cyberattacks, electronic interference and other counter-space threats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indigenous Capabilities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India is developing domestic technologies in areas such as <\/span><b>satellite communication, navigation, space-based surveillance, tracking and launch systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to reduce strategic dependence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Space Debris Management:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India is working towards reducing the generation of debris and improving the <\/span><b>safe and sustainable use of orbital space<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Weaponisation of Space involves ASAT weapons, cyberattacks, jamming and other counter-space technologies, posing risks to satellites, space security, debris and global stability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":125025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[10321,10320],"class_list":["post-125012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-weaponisation","tag-weaponisation-of-space","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125012"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125028,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125012\/revisions\/125028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}