Space Weaponisation

• Definition: Deployment or use of weapons and technologies for the purposes of targeting satellites, spacecraft, or terrestrial targets in outer space.

Space Weaponisation vs Militarisation:

• Militarisation: Use of space assets for military supporting functions, e.g., communication, navigation, surveillance and reconnaissance.
• Weaponisation: Development or deployment of systems designed to destroy, degrade, disrupt, or disable.

Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons: Used to destroy or incapacitate satellites.

• Kinetic ASAT: Impacts and destroys a satellite through an in-space collision.
• Non-kinetic ASAT: Non-physical means of disabling satellites, such as jamming, hacking/cyberattack, and directed energy or other electronic interference.
• India: Successfully conducted Mission Shakti in 2019 — it developed an indigenous Direct-Ascent ASAT capability.

• Mission Shakti Payload: Microsat-R (Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite).
• Large Amount of Space Debris: ASAT tests are responsible for creating debris in the Earth’s orbit, which can become a danger to other satellites or spacecraft.

Outer Space Treaty, 1967:

• Bans the deployment of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) into space.
• Everyone will use the Moon and other celestial bodies only for peaceful purposes.
• It does not ban everything relating to military activity in space.

UPSC Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding weaponisation of outer space:

1. Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons are used to destroy or disable satellites.

2. The Outer Space Treaty, 1967 outlaws all military operations in outer space.

3. In 2019, India demonstrated an ASAT capability with Mission Shakti.

4. Kinetic ASAT weapons can create space debris.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

Statement 1 — Correct: ASAT systems target and destroy the satellites of another nation.

Statement 2 — False: The Outer Space Treaty does not prohibit all military activities in space.

Statement 3 — Correct: India conducted Mission Shakti in 2019.

Statement 4 — True: Kinetic interception can form fragments and lead to space debris