Satellites are critical to modern life, enabling communication, GPS, financial transactions, and more. If a nation gains the capability to destroy another’s satellites, it can cripple that country’s economy and infrastructure without firing a single shot. Satellite networks, like GPS, are particularly vulnerable—disabling just one satellite can disrupt the entire system.
The Strategic Importance of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) LEO, being closer to Earth, offers higher resolution imaging, making it a prime location for military satellites. Control of LEO could dictate access to space beyond Earth’s orbit, making it a crucial space choke point. LEO will also be vital for refueling and resupplying spacecraft destined for the Moon, Mars, and beyond, effectively turning it into a “gatekeeper” corridor.
Lagrange Points: Space’s Strategic “Car Parks Five points known as Lagrange Points (L1 to L5) are areas where the gravitational forces of Earth and the Sun balance, offering stability for spacecraft with minimal energy use. These points are becoming hotly contested for their strategic value, much like historical sea routes once determined control over Earth.
From Sea Power to Space Power In previous centuries, control over sea routes determined global dominance; today, space power, especially the ability to place military assets in LEO, will play a similar role. Nations that control key orbital zones could effectively regulate access to space, limiting rivals’ abilities to explore and exploit celestial resources.
The Artemis Accords and Lunar Resource Competition The Artemis Accords, signed in 2020, outline rules for activities on the Moon. Unlike older treaties like the Outer Space Treaty (OST), the Artemis Accords are bilateral and reflect the U.S. approach to space, potentially sidelining non-signatories like China and Russia. The competition extends to valuable lunar resources like helium-3, water, and rare earth metals, crucial for future energy needs.
The Need for New Space Governance Space is increasingly viewed not as a global commons but as a contested domain. Current treaties are outdated, and new enforceable rules are needed to prevent conflicts similar to those on Earth. As nations demonstrate their capabilities with anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, the threat of space becoming a battleground intensifies.
India’s Space Strategy India, recognizing the growing military dimension of space, tested its own ASAT in 2019. While India’s space program has focused on civilian uses, it cannot ignore the need to develop space weapons for deterrence and defense, especially as other nations advance in militarizing space.
Space is no longer just about exploration; it is the next frontier of geopolitics and strategic competition. The future will depend on how nations navigate this new era of astropolitics.
