Weaponization of space
The weaponization of space is complex with potential scenarios ranging from limited disruption to full-scale orbital warfare, being a key point to distinguish between militarization (using space for military support like comms, GPS, intel) and weaponization (deploying offensive weapons in or through space, or using ground-based systems to attack space assets). The latter is what raises significant international concern and could lead to destabilization. I. Categories of Space Weapons Space weapons can be broadly categorized by their location of deployment and method of attack: Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite (DA-ASAT) Missiles: Description: Ground-launched missiles that travel directly into space to physically collide with and destroy a target satellite. Example: China's 2007 test that destroyed its own defunct weather satellite, India's 2019 "Mission Shakti," and Russia's 2021 test against its own satellite. Mode of Attack: Kinetic kill, generating large amou...