Space Security: The Next Decade
Private-sector initiatives have created considerable momentum in the space industry, argues Michael Haas in this new CSS Analysis. The importance of space systems as critical infrastructures will continue to increase in the coming years. At the same time, it is increasingly likely that weapons will be deployed in space. For Switzerland, the trajectories of this trend bring economic opportunities, but also increased security risks.
While we may increasingly take for granted the maintenance of our global high-tech civilization, it is in fact based on a broad range of challenging requirements. Since the late 20th century, one of these in particular has been access to outer space. Complex space systems are not only required for obvious applications such as satellite navigation and weather forecasting. Today, global financial transactions, electronic payment systems, mobile telecommunications networks, and elements of civilian air traffic control all depend on space-based infrastructures. It is thus quite appropriate that the Federal Council in its “National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure Protection 2018 – 2022” refers to Switzerland’s very considerable dependence on space-based services.