A war in space could break out within the next five years as countries develop weapons to target satellites, experts have warned, according to a report by The Telegraph .
Britain and its allies are already preparing for the threat, with companies that once focused on commercial space projects now working on military technology. Astroscale, a British company founded to remove space debris, is involved in classified military programmes. A nuclear explosion in space could damage thousands of satellites through radiation and high-energy particles, potentially making parts of Earth’s orbit unusable. Russian satellites have also been observed carrying out suspicious manoeuvres near other spacecraft. This week, a Russian military satellite moved close to ICEYE X36, which has been supporting Ukraine. China, meanwhile, has tested spacecraft capable of capturing objects in orbit. Its satellites have also demonstrated refuelling and close-range manoeuvres.
Orbit Fab, which develops satellite refuelling technology, is also working with the Ministry of Defence on “defensive and offensive capabilities in space”. Dr Julia Balm of King’s College London’s Freeman Air and Space Institute said allied nations were being “targeted” in space by adversaries “on a daily basis”.
