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A EUROPEAN VISION OF

SPACE SECURITY

Serge Plattard

Secretary General, European Space Policy Institute

Collective Security in SpaceEuropean Perspectives on Acceptable Approaches

Paris, 15-16 May, 2006

© ESPI – SP/PHP/MJ- Nov 2005

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THE POLITICAL SCENETHE POLITICAL SCENE

USA: a historical maturity for total use of spaceUSA: a historical maturity for total use of space Russia: a changing postureRussia: a changing posture China: building up a doctrineChina: building up a doctrine Europe: looking for a consensus and starting Europe: looking for a consensus and starting

with basics.with basics.

Europe cannot, and will not, make the strategic Europe cannot, and will not, make the strategic choices made by the United Stateschoices made by the United States

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FIRST CHALLENGEFIRST CHALLENGE Europe has to develop its own means to acquire Europe has to develop its own means to acquire

and maintain knowledge of the space and maintain knowledge of the space environment in setting up:environment in setting up:

A European Space Situation Awareness System A European Space Situation Awareness System providing the following functions:providing the following functions:

Monitoring European satellitesMonitoring European satellites Characterising any threat to these satellitesCharacterising any threat to these satellites Monitoring and forcasting of space weatherMonitoring and forcasting of space weather Verifiying provisions of the Outer Space TreatyVerifiying provisions of the Outer Space Treaty Providing pertinent operation of space status when Providing pertinent operation of space status when

space assets are used for planning/conducting space assets are used for planning/conducting operationsoperations

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SECOND CHALLENGESECOND CHALLENGE

How Europe should position itself vis-How Europe should position itself vis-à-vis:à-vis:US doctrine of space control:US doctrine of space control:

Can we, as Europeans live with it?Can we, as Europeans live with it?Evolving doctrines of Russia and ChinaEvolving doctrines of Russia and China

A step further: what is the level of self A step further: what is the level of self

sufficiency for space-based facilities from sufficiency for space-based facilities from

the European standpoint?the European standpoint?

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THIRD CHALLENGETHIRD CHALLENGE

Setting confidence-building measuresSetting confidence-building measurestargeted towards:targeted towards:

Space debris mitigation: what remains to Space debris mitigation: what remains to be donebe done

Satellite registration procedures: definitely Satellite registration procedures: definitely more pro-activity is neededmore pro-activity is needed

Notification of activities for launchers, Notification of activities for launchers, satellites, re-entries.satellites, re-entries.

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION These three challenges are certainly within the range of These three challenges are certainly within the range of

European capabilities.European capabilities.

It is a matter of political willingness overriding any It is a matter of political willingness overriding any national susceptibility because the requirements are of a national susceptibility because the requirements are of a rather low level and of common sense.rather low level and of common sense.

Is (Should) Europe (be) ready to embark on more active Is (Should) Europe (be) ready to embark on more active means to protect its investments in space?means to protect its investments in space?

If no (not yet), then Europe should be considerably more If no (not yet), then Europe should be considerably more active in banning weapons in space.A sufficiently active in banning weapons in space.A sufficiently ariculated discourse in that direction is not percieved ariculated discourse in that direction is not percieved today.today.