Is America Ready for a War in Space?
As threats grow, U.S. space security shifts from aspiration to urgent necessity - a race to secure the ultimate high ground
Space has become an indispensable backbone of modern life and military power. Financial transactions, global shipping, GPS, missile defense, and advanced communication systems all depend on uninterrupted access to orbital assets. Yet as reliance deepens, so too does vulnerability.
Over the last five years, both Russia and China have accelerated the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, co-orbital hunter-killer systems, directed-energy capabilities, and cyber tools aimed at blinding or crippling U.S. space infrastructure. Russia’s cyberattack on a commercial satellite at the outset of its invasion of Ukraine demonstrated how space-based disruptions can immediately paralyze military and civilian functions alike.
Russia has already declared commercial satellites to be fair targets, and its ongoing testing of ASAT systems generates dangerous debris that threatens all operators in low-Earth orbit. In parallel, China frames space as the ultimate high ground, advancing its capacity to neutralize critical U.S. assets and rapidly narrowing the technological gap. The guiding belief — “whoever controls space controls Earth” — underscores a decisive shift toward orbital dominance as a foundation for terrestrial power.
Meanwhile, space-based missile defense has reemerged as a central priority. The proposed Golden Dome initiative envisions an integrated space layer capable of early detection and interception of hypersonic threats and other advanced missile systems. The plan includes space-based sensors and interceptors designed to overcome the limits of ground-based radars, which cannot detect hypersonics in time to enable an effective response.
While skepticism remains about technical feasibility, history suggests otherwise. Critics once argued that hitting a missile with another missile was impossible; today, such intercepts are routine. Advances in commercial launch capabilities and satellite proliferation have dramatically reduced costs, making once-theoretical concepts operationally plausible within a short time frame.
Beyond hardware, doctrine and resilience are under scrutiny. The reliance on GPS and centralized space infrastructure creates a single point of failure that could be exploited through cyber or kinetic attacks. Strengthening redundancy and developing credible offensive cyber capabilities are viewed as necessary shifts to deter adversaries and ensure operational continuity.
Arms control frameworks designed for an era of bilateral nuclear deterrence are faltering. Russia’s repeated treaty violations and China’s strategic ambitions render traditional agreements ineffective. In a multipolar environment, building credible deterrence through technological advantage is increasingly emphasized over negotiated limitations.
Calls for increased investment reflect a broad recognition: space superiority is no longer a luxury but a critical pillar of national security. Future conflicts may begin with an orbital strike, and the ability to withstand and respond will shape outcomes not only in space but across every domain on Earth.
Sources
- Crank, Jeff, and Rebeccah L. Heinrichs. “Defending in Outer Space: A Conversation with Congressman Jeff Crank.” Panel Discussion. June 10, 2025.
