UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift

UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift
UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift

One new working group, led by the UK and US, will focus on norms; the other, led by Russia and China, will draft legal treaty.

Russia spikes UN effort on norms to reduce space threats

Russia spikes UN effort on norms to reduce space threats
Russia spikes UN effort on norms to reduce space threats

Only a small number of nations, including Venezuela, Iran and China, supported Russia’s objections, especially its rejection of responsible behavior as a foundation for norms.

Norms plus counterspace weapons: RAND recommends holistic strategy to deter space attack

Norms plus counterspace weapons: RAND recommends holistic strategy to deter space attack
Norms plus counterspace weapons: RAND recommends holistic strategy to deter space attack

“The prospects for complete success in deterrence of hostile attacks on space assets, particularly reversible, nondestructive attacks, are limited,” the RAND study cautions.

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms
EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

The EU move, which comes in the run up to the final meeting of the UN working group to prevent space threats at the end of the month, brings the number of countries supporting the limited ASAT testing ban up to 35.

Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst

Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst
Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst

Russian and Chinese anti-satellite tests are responsible for “pretty much 20 percent” of “conjunction” warnings, that is predictions that two space objects are likely to collide, in 2022, said the State Department’s Eric Desautels.

At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers

At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers
At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers

American initiatives are seeing more support, while rivals used the opportunity to raise a litany of complaints against Washington.

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview
At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

There are a host of open questions bedeviling national and international policy- and law-makers as they struggle to get a better grip on both the explosion of commercial players with innovative ideas for space utilization and the growing military interest in space as a tool of, and venue for, war.

UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests

UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests
UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests

“There are ongoing reviews to find other other commitments that we can make, specifically around national security space activities,” said the State Department’s Richard Buenneke.

Give JADC2 to Space Force, along with ASAT weapons: Mitchell report

Give JADC2 to Space Force, along with ASAT weapons: Mitchell report
Give JADC2 to Space Force, along with ASAT weapons: Mitchell report

“We may say that we don’t want to, and we stand behind not doing, kinetic debris creating testing, but that does not mean that we should not have that capability,” said Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies Tim Ryan.

Space Force commander cannot ‘forgive’ Russia for ‘reckless’ ASAT test

Space Force commander cannot ‘forgive’ Russia for ‘reckless’ ASAT test
Space Force commander cannot ‘forgive’ Russia for ‘reckless’ ASAT test

Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting talks “contested” space, his worries about space cybersecurity and what happens if adversaries target commercial US firms in orbit.

EXCLUSIVE: US pushes ASAT missile ban as UN norms group reconvenes

EXCLUSIVE: US pushes ASAT missile ban as UN norms group reconvenes
EXCLUSIVE: US pushes ASAT missile ban as UN norms group reconvenes

Up to now, only Canada and New Zealand have joined the US in unilaterally pledging not to test destructive ASAT missiles, but diplomats expect others to join in.

To protect and maybe defend: NRO, SPACECOM ponder commercial satellite defense options

To protect and maybe defend: NRO, SPACECOM ponder commercial satellite defense options
To protect and maybe defend: NRO, SPACECOM ponder commercial satellite defense options

Kaitlyn Johnson, of the Aerospace Security Project, welcomed the SPACECOM-NRO conversation, noting that it is “a big deal,” especially since “Russia has conducted electronic and cyber counterspace attacks already” in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

As danger grows for commercial firms in space, so does call for norms: Aerospace

As danger grows for commercial firms in space, so does call for norms: Aerospace
As danger grows for commercial firms in space, so does call for norms: Aerospace

One critical issue for the commercial space industry identified by the Aerospace study is the potential for their satellites and ground stations to be deliberately targeted.

Congress must support a diversified, multi-layered approach to space missile warning

Congress must support a diversified, multi-layered approach to space missile warning
Congress must support a diversified, multi-layered approach to space missile warning

America’s adversaries are developing tools to trick or destroy current missile tracking capabilities. It’s time to get back ahead of the curve, writes Christopher Stone of the Mitchell Institute.