It’s not science fiction. It’s the new international battlefield.
The rules of warfare have evolved with technology. Today’s technology takes warfare to outer space.
More than 12,000 operational satellites orbit Earth. Many play a critical role for world militaries. They provide GPS navigation systems. They aid in intelligence gathering. They bolster supply chains. They can also provide early warnings of incoming enemy missiles.
By disabling adversaries’ satellites, nations can deal damage without firing a single bullet. Such attacks can interrupt television feeds, disrupt communication and internet access, and stagger economies.
“If you can impede a satellite’s ability to communicate, you can cause a significant disruption,” says Tom Pace. He’s a former U.S. Marine and CEO of the cybersecurity firm NetRise. “Think about GPS. Imagine if a population lost that and the confusion it would cause.”
Most anti-satellite attacks come through another modern-day battleground: cyberspace. Hackers look for weak links in satellite software and hardware. Outdated software can render the most secure satellites vulnerable.
But these satellite strikes could someday go beyond the digital. U.S. national security officials say Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon. This weapon could wipe out satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Such a device would violate an international treaty against weapons of mass destruction in space. But if used, it would render LEO unusable for satellites for up to a year.
Mining operations on the Moon and asteroids could create space-based conflicts. The Moon has rich stores of helium 3. Scientists think this chemical could fuel nuclear fission to create huge amounts of energy. This technology doesn’t exist quite yet. But some experts believe the nations who control the Moon could become future global superpowers.
NASA plans to send a small nuclear reactor to the Moon. U.S. officials want to achieve this feat before China or Russia, who have announced similar plans.
“This isn’t sci-fi. It’s quickly becoming a reality,” says cybersecurity expert Joseph Rooke. “If you dominate Earth’s energy needs, that’s game over.”
Nobody wants increased conflict. But these modern realities mean nations must prepare. “You have to pay attention to these things so they don’t happen,” says U.S. Representative Mike Turner.
When U.S. officials announced the creation of a Space Force military branch in 2018, people scratched their heads. It sounded more like Star Wars than reality. But the Space Force works to protect U.S. satellites and other space-based interests, such as Moon-mining. Europe has started developing space defense programs as well.
The “where” and “how” of warfare change often. New threats can seem frightening. But we don’t need to fear. God never changes, and He rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:28) His authority reaches to outer space—and beyond.
Why? New types of warfare require new forms of defense—but nothing is truly new to an eternal God.
Recommended Reading: For more about space warfare, read C.S. Lewis's space trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.
