The Challenge of Small Satellite Systems to the Space Security Environment
Abstract
During the last two decades, technological advancements in the size and performance of electronics have fostered the development of increasingly sophisticated and smaller satellites. Small satellites, or smallsats as they are commonly referred to, have recorded data on terrestrial and space environments, served as important test beds and risk reducers for emerging space technologies, and provided important hands-on educational opportunities for industry and academia. The decreased cost and improved performance of smallsats have opened up a wide range of space missions at a fraction of the cost of larger satellite systems that would have been unfathomable two short decades ago. The proliferation of smallsat technology opens up a world of new scientific possibilities. Smallsats also pose unique security challenges for space-faring nations through their potential use as antisatellite (ASAT) systems. This thesis examines the historical development of ASAT systems in the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China, and discusses how they have influenced each nation's space policy. The thesis will address current efforts to mitigate space weapons, review the implications of smallsat technology development on current space policy, and suggest courses of action to mitigate this emerging space security dilemma.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560689
Entities
People
- Daniel A. Gallton
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School