GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
With the current trend of increasing military spending in space projects by many countries, there is a possibility of the breakout of satellite warfare (Dorminey, 2014). With the wide range of applications of satellites (i.e. GPS, communication, etc.), satellites become increasingly important and are symbols of power. Destruction of satellites may consequently destroy all forms of communications in a country, and this will render many things to not be able to work.
Anti-Satellite Weapons
China has invested a lot in space military. It has developed anti-satellites missiles that can destroy crucial satellites of the United States (Gertz, 2014).
China has launched at least six antisatellite (ASAT) missiles since 2004 and one of which had successfully destroyed a non-functional Chinese weather satellite in 2007 (Bremner, 2014). Furthermore, China has also developed jamming technology that can disrupt satellite communications, ground-based lasers that can destroy solar panels of satellites, and satellites with grappling arms that can interfere with US satellites (Bremner, 2014).
Essentially, this technology will be able to weaken USA or any other countries which depend on communication heavily because military and commercial communication are only made possible through satellites.
Reactions
US would be extremely affected if there were satellite warfare since almost 43% of the satellites in space belong to them. Both Japan and the US have invested billions into complex missile defense systems to defend their satellites from potential attacks from ASAT weapons. Some of the defenses include developing satellite transmitters that can constantly change frequencies such that the frequencies would not be jammed; and developing radar systems on the ground to monitor any objects that has the potential of attacking the satellites (Bremner, 2014).
Prevention
With our increase reliance on the Internet and smart technologies, satellites become increasingly essential to our daily functions. Therefore, an outbreak of satellite warfare may be viewed as a quick way to weaken any country and launch an attack on the country. Hence, many countries view the maintenance of their satellites of great importance and they believe that any attack on their satellites is akin to initiating war (Bremner, 2014).
Countries would need to restraint themselves to avoid the conflict. Examples of restraints include 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which aimed to enhance cooperation in space (Dorminey, 2014).
But is this enough?
