Committee on Security and Defence I (SEDE I) 2021: A Space Odyssey? Space exploration has been receiving increasing attention during the past few years from both private investors and state actors, with international powers such as the US and China expressing interest in its militarisation and its resources. Having designated 2021-2027 as an important timeframe for Europe’s activities in outer space, what strategy should the EU adopt towards space security and defence? by Raphael Tsiamis (GR)
1. Background and relevance In the past, outer space seemed faraway and unapproachable, ‘the final frontier,’ with public perception and government action focusing on pioneer exploration missions such as the Moon landing and the deployment of unmanned vehicles on Mars. However, the rapid technological advances of recent decades have made space increasingly important for human activity, as multiple key services that are essential in our daily lives such as telecommunication and weather forecasting rely on space-based systems and technologies, particularly satellites.35 Such tools are also considered critical for militaries worldwide, with advanced military satellites serving as tactical outposts while increasing the operational capabilities of armies through high-level communications and navigational systems. The importance of outer space is not only military: 2021 saw private actors and companies become active in space travel and build up infrastructure for space mining,36 eager to extract valuable resources from newly-discovered planets and asteroids. This increased activity is paving the way for the commercialisation of space,37 highlighting its importance as a steadily-emerging economic sector. Acknowledging the importance of space in all regards, the European Union (EU) considers it critical not only in terms of security and defence, but also in the context of the EU’s social, economic, and strategic needs. That said, the EU has historically sought limited military activity in space itself, seeking to establish its strategic autonomy38 over space through primarily peaceful means. However, lawmakers and experts have been calling for a shift towards a more active defensive stance as 35
A satellite is, in the general sense of celestial mechanics, an object orbiting a planet. In the context of space flight, this refers specifically to artificial satellites, i.e., objects intentionally placed in orbit, distinguishing them from natural satellites such as the Earth's Moon. 36 Space mining, also known as asteroid mining, refers to the exploitation of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects. 37 The commercialisation (or commercial use) of space is the extraction of value through providing goods and services related to outer space. These include, for example, the use of equipment in orbit, the privatisation of space travel, and the market utilisation of resources discovered during the exploration of space. 38 Strategic autonomy, in the context of EU Security and Defence, refers to the EU’s ability to respond to external threats without being dependent on NATO and, particularly, its largest and strongest military member, the US. 60
