“Outer space is increasingly emerging as a domain of military competition, threatening its peaceful utilisation.” Examine the implications of space militarisation on global and regional security.

Answer: Model Answer approach

The ecosystem of space systems used to accomplish military goals is referred to as “space militarization.” In addition to real-time warfare through the deployment and advancement of military equipment in space, it entails strategic planning, surveillance, telecommunication, and reconnaissance. On the other hand, space weaponization describes the more vigorous and offensive use of space systems for military objectives, when the outer world becomes the battlefield and weapons are developed and deployed there that travel from Earth to attack or destroy targets in space.

Current Advancements in the Field

• By advancing its ICBM development, China is making significant gains toward weaponizing space and opening the fourth front in space warfare.
• The establishment of a “space force,” or sixth branch of the American military, was recently declared by the president of the United States.
• India now surpassed the United States, China, and Russia as the fourth nation with the ability to destroy an adversary in space. It accomplished this by using the anti-satellite missile A-SAT, which is a component of Mission Shakti, to fire down a low-orbit satellite.

Conclusion: Space conflicts and weaponization should not be viewed as a logical decision for humanity since the earth is viewed from space as a single, interrelated, and distinct ecosystem of life. Conflicts and weapons races should give way to peace and prosperity in the twenty-first century. Humanity’s shared inheritance is outer space, and it is the duty of all spacefaring nations to protect and promote the advantages that come with advancements in space technology.

Practice Question

Question: “The militarisation of outer space poses a serious threat to global peace and technological progress.” In this context, analyze the need for space disarmament and confidence-building measures.

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Mains PYQs 

Question: What is the main task of India’s third mood mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (UPSC IAS 2023)

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