Outer Space: A New Platform For Global Diplomacy

Outer space is the area outside the Earth's atmosphere which constitutes other planets and stars. Traditionally the domain of outer space has been entirely controlled by state actors. With coming of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation, there was a rapid increase in the participation of private and non-state actors in outer space activities. Space related activities and services have been commercialized across various domains such as satellite manufacturing, launching, propulsion technologies and other space-based services.

• Rapid spread of space technology in the last few decades has resulted in increased participation of a large number of developing countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America which has democratized the space sector. It is no more the monopoly of the west and has become a new platform for Global Diplomacy.

The Outer Space Industry

• The global outer space industry is worth $350 billion, and it is estimated that the sector is expected to reach more than $1 trillion by 2040. India accounts for only 2% ($ 7 billion) of the space industry. But India’s space sector is projected to increase rapidly at a 48% Compound Annual Growth Rate over the next five years to reach $50 billion.
• Around the world, there are more than 10,000 private sector companies and 5,000 leading investors in the area of space tech. It is going to increase as private engagement will increase. For example, SpaceX, the Elon Musk led venture plans to launch thousands of satellites to cater to growing broadband needs.

Militarization of Outer Space

• Space activities are being increasingly characterized by the dominance of space security-driven companies. There is increase in use of space capabilities for even the conventional military operations.
• Outer space technologies have been increasingly developed for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance and integration of outer space into conventional military operations.
• There is also rapid development of counter-space capabilities in the fields of anti-satellite technologies, cyber warfare, electronic warfare and directed Energy Weapons. More and more countries are now engaged in developing space capabilities as a measure of deterrence.
• The state of Great Power politics and increasing competition and rivalry in the outer space has led to suspicion of even the peaceful technologies.

Changing Dynamics of Outer Space

• Increasing Competition: There have been changes in the balance of power dynamics in regions such as the Indo-Pacific and beyond. In the Indo-Pacific region, China has taken various initiatives towards advanced and sophisticated space capabilities to match up USA.
  • Due to high competition among the major powers such as between China and Japan or China and India, developments in outer space technologies have been taking place rapidly.
  • Japan is also planning to develop an interceptor capability in the coming years due to the changing dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
• Obsolete Treaties: Outer space activities have been governed by a few legal instruments such as the foundational treaty mechanism, the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967. But this treaty and other associated agreements were introduced in the 1960s and 1970s when the threats and challenges emerging out of outer space were very different. For example, the OST prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, but it makes no mention of conventional weapons, which is a serious lacunae.
  • At present these treaties suffer from loopholes and are ambiguously interpreted by different states to accommodate their narrow interests.
  • There is an urgent need to work out new rules that are more aligned with the current developments of the world.
• Rise in Space Junk: Outer space is crowded with a large amount of space junk. As per NASA, there are more than 23, 000 orbital debris larger than 10 cm and an approximately 500,000 particles between 1 and 10 cm in diameter. Space debris poses potential danger to future spaceflights.
• Increasing Instances of Disruption: Countries are increasingly dependent on outer space for important services such as telecommunications, satellite-based navigation systems, weather forecasting and security needs such as intelligence and surveillance.
• Cyber Warfare on Outer Space: The increasing use of means of electronic and cyber warfare in outer space is violating global rules like non-interference in other country’s satellite operations.
• Dedicated Space Institutions: Increasing competition in space has led to emergence of dedicated military space institutions. Russia’s Aerospace Defence Forces, China’s PLA Strategic Support Force, the US’ Space Force, and India’s Defence Space Agency are examples of the new space security institutions that are taking shape.

India’s Concerns and Initiatives

• In India’s neighbourhood, China’s growing space prowess has been of particular concern to India. India has demonstrated its anti-satellite capabilities in March 2019, which was an indication of the changing dynamics in its neighbourhood.
• India has a large constellation of communications satellites such as INSAT and GSAT. India has also made progress in the area of surveillance satellites.
• With the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) complete, significant portion of Defence navigation requirements can be met indigenously by India.
• In 2020, the Government has also adopted a new policy that will enable the private sector to participate or undertake a range of space activities, such as building/developing rockets and satellites, providing launching services and owning satellites. Private businesses will be able to carry out R&D activities, collaborate with ISRO on various science and interplanetary missions and use ISRO’s facilities.
• These reforms will be implemented by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), and ISRO’s commercial activities will be delegated to government owned units such as New Space India Ltd. (NSIL) and Antrix. It will allow ISRO to focus on R&D, scientific missions and space exploration.

While the new theatre of outer space brings many benefits such as democratization of outer space and making access to space cheaper but it also requires that new rules and regulations should be framed to govern activities in this sector.