Imagine this: The US military starts tracking a mysterious spacecraft maneuvering near one of its missile-warning satellites, 22,000 miles above the equator. Suddenly, that satellite goes dark.
The possibilities are numerous – was it an intentional attack or a technical malfunction? A think tank with retired Air Force and Space Force officials explored these scenarios in two days of intense discussion. They aimed to understand how conflict in space might unfold and how to stay ahead.
Participants were presented with hypothetical adversarial actions, starting with China docking one of its satellites with an inoperable European commercial satellite and repositioning it without prior coordination. The workshop then introduced further hostile activities attributed to various actors, all designed to stress-test responses.
The findings suggest that robust communication channels and clear protocols are crucial for quick decision-making during space conflicts. This kind of preparation is vital as the militarisation of space continues to escalate, posing new challenges to international security.
