What are the security threats emanating from space ?

Since some form and quantity of security is required for consumption of all goods and services, security is a necessary complement to all goods and services. Thus, some form and quantity of space security is required for our continued consumption of goods and services on Earth (because insecurities in space can adversely affect the security on Earth), as well as for our emerging ability to “consume” the opportunities offered by space. And space is not free of security problems. Space debris can spiral to Earth and/or interfere with or damage someone’s spacecraft; while the absence of space traffic laws and regulations can result in collisions of spacecrafts, and satellites that are important for Earthly telecommunication, surveillance, etc. (UNIDIR, 2008). The absence of space governance and property rights can adversely affect our ability to exploit the resources offered by space; while weaponization of space and the potential for space-based military conflicts presents a grave danger to people and property, both in space and on Earth (UNIDIR, 2008).

Security is also an uncertain good as security-breaches are irregular and unpredictable. Consequently, risk-averse individuals tend to demand insurance against unpredictable security breaches. This insurance can take the form of some kind of preventive measures and/or after-the-fact compensation. When it comes to space security, most preventive measures to date appear to be limited to developing laws, regulations, and agreements regarding the usage of space; as UNIDIR’s (2008) conference report seems to demonstrate. While, with regards to after-the-fact compensation, most spacecraft has probably been insured since the start of space age in 1960s; if only because of its high failure rate in operations.

References

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). (2008, 31 March - 1 April 2008). Security in Space: The Next Generation - Conference Report. Available at http://www.unidir.org/files/publications/pdfs/security-in-space-the-next-generation-conference-report-31-march-1-april-2008-342.pdf