https://spacewatch.global/tag/asat/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:57:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/asat/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-applying-polycentric-governance-in-space/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67424
Written by Mahhad Nayyer
When people talk about “space sustainability,” two words often come up: empathy and inclusion. They sound powerful, but too often they remain just that—slogans, not practices. Unless our systems of governance embed empathy and inclusion as real guiding principles, the space environment will continue to be shaped by competition, exclusion, and delayed action.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-crafting-new-solutions-to-avert-an-arms-race-in-outer-space/ Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:00:29 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=52996 GPS signals that guide civilian aircraft in the Middle East and Ukraine are being jammed and spoofed, diverting flights and risking the safety of all onboard. Meanwhile, diplomats from 25 countries met again in Geneva to consider possible elements of a legally binding agreement to prevent an arms race in outer space (PAROS). Both situations arise from decades of unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to ensure that outer space – a shared, global environment on which the entire world depends – remains peaceful and available to all.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/12/france-joins-asat-testing-ban-initiative/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 07:00:57 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=45217 The French government expressed its decision to join the direct-ascent ASAT (DASAT) testing ban initiative launched by the United States of America to save Earth orbits from  further hazardous debris. The French Government’s aim with this step is to promote a “safe, stable space environment.”]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/10/uk-and-south-korea-join-asat-test-ban/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 06:00:19 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=43762 The United Kingdom and South Korea have committed not to destructively test direct ascent anti-satellite missiles (DA-ASAT) and thus joining the initiative led by the United Stated to promote peaceful and safe use of outer space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/04/us-commits-to-no-asat-missile-testing-in-space/ Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=40526 Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the United States commits not to conduct destructive, direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing, to set a new international benchmark for responsible behavior in space. The Vice President called on other nations to follow in the US’ footsteps as such efforts benefitted humankind. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/03/space-cafe-canada-by-dr-jessica-west-recap-is-arms-control-rocket-science/ Wed, 02 Mar 2022 09:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=39624 During the fifth Space Café Canada event, host Jessica West of Project Ploughshares sat down with Paul Meyer, a global expert on arms control and diplomacy in outer space, to discuss why efforts to agree to restrictions on the use of weapons and other military restraints has been so difficult.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-an-asat-test-again/ Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37920 On 15 November 2021, a Russian ground-based DA-ASAT (direct ascent anti-satellite) interceptor, ‘Nudol’, hit defunct Russian spy satellite Cosmos 1408, built and launched in the 1980s, at an altitude of 480 km. The destruction caused a cloud of debris of about 1500 pieces and forced the crew of the ISS, four Americans, two Russians, and a German, ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/12/spacewatchgl-column-espi-brief-54-un-resolution-on-norms-of-responsible-behaviours-in-space-a-step-forward-to-preserve-stability-in-space/ Wed, 01 Dec 2021 09:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37628 As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and the European Space Policy Institute, we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and briefs. This is ESPI Briefs No. 54: ‘UN resolution on norms of responsible behaviours in space – a step forward to preserve stability in space?’, originally published in November 2021.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/space-cafe-radio-a-special-on-the-recent-russian-anti-satellite-test/ Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:00:33 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37592 In this Space Café Radio - Special on the recent Russian Anti-Satellite Test – SpaceWatch.Global contributing editor Dr. Emma Gatti spoke with her guests about "Is Space an asset, or a weapon?" In this special episode of Space Cafè Radio, we explore the political and strategic implications of the 15th of November 2021 Russian ASAT attack.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/space-cafe-recap-law-breakfast-with-steven-freeland-6/ Sun, 28 Nov 2021 12:00:36 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37507 In the latest Space Café “Law Breakfast with Steven Freeland”, Steven Freeland and Torsten Kriening welcomed  Joanne Wheeler and Ram Jakhu at the wonderful and historic ‘Press Café in London. Over Danish pastries, cookies, croissants and coffee, the panellists, along with a fantastic audience, engaged in a revealing and insightful discussion dealing with many legal issues ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/spacewatchgl-opinion-the-ramifications-of-russias-reckless-anti-satellite-test/ Tue, 23 Nov 2021 13:00:55 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37377 As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and The Strategist, we have been granted permission to publish selected articles. This is “The ramifications of Russia’s reckless anti-satellite test” by Malcolm Davis, originally published on 18 Nov 2021.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/spacewatchgl-share-russias-attack-on-its-own-satellite-is-reckless-and-endangers-us-all/ Tue, 23 Nov 2021 13:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=37382 As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Prof. Ram Jakhu, we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. This is “Russia’s attack on its own satellite is reckless and endangers us all”, originally published 18 November 2021 at The Conversation.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/11/un-committee-says-yes-to-establishing-space-rules-group/ Wed, 03 Nov 2021 07:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=36956 The UN First Committee, responsible for international security, approved the establishment of a new working group to develop rules for military activities in space, Breaking Defense reports. The plan was proposed by the UK and supported by a number of Western countries including the US. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-rethinking-the-inevitable-why-we-need-to-stop-hoping-and-prepare-for-space-warfare/ Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:00:13 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=29481 In the not-so-distant future, some country’s leader will be forced to answer the following question – will they passively allow the citizens and military forces of their nation to be targeted, with impunity, by the space forces of an adversary nation?  ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-2020-in-review-a-space-security-perspective/ Mon, 28 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=29362&preview=true&preview_id=29362 2020 will be a year long remembered by anyone who lived through it, though maybe not for the best reasons. Between political strife, a pandemic and natural disasters, a person could be forgiven for thinking it was the end of days. But modern civilisation has not collapsed (yet) and humans managed to carry on with their daily lives, meeting with friends and family online, ordering more take-out meals and adding to the list of indicators of an arms race in outer space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-russian-asat-test-more-trouble-for-space-security/ Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=24697&preview=true&preview_id=24697 As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. We are pleased to present “Russian ASAT Test: More Trouble for Space Security”, originally published on 31 Juli 2020 in The Diplomat.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/02/spacewatchgl-perspectives-malcolm-davis-on-russias-orbital-rendezvous-with-the-united-states/ Thu, 20 Feb 2020 09:00:06 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=19679 One of the more notable space stories of the past few weeks is that of two Russian satellites allegedly ‘stalking’ a KH-11 reconnaissance satellite operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/12/russias-roscosmos-to-initiate-talks-on-kinetic-kill-asat-ban/ Mon, 02 Dec 2019 06:00:21 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=17361 The Russian state space corporation, Roscosmos, has announced that it intends to initiate international talks to ban the testing and use of Kinetic Energy (KE) anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/08/spacewatchgl-themes-espi-brief-31-indias-asat-test-amidst-global-ambiguity/ Tue, 06 Aug 2019 06:00:37 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15442 https://spacewatch.global/2019/05/japanese-military-space-mod-to-allocate-100-personnel-for-space-domain-mission-unit-by-fy2022-seeks-replacement-for-lost-worldview-4/ Thu, 16 May 2019 05:00:16 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=14131 Japan's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed that it will assign 100 military personnel to its Space Domain Mission Unit that is expected to be stood up by Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and will based at the Fuchu Air Base, operated by the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF), west of Tokyo.]]>