The rapid militarisation and weaponisation of outer space, accelerated by advancements in anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, poses unprecedented risks to global security, space sustainability, and the future of critical infrastructure reliant on satellites. Developments such as India’s 2019 Mission Shakti, Russia’s 2021 DA-ASAT test, and growing speculation about dual-use ASAT systems under development by major space powers underscore the urgency of addressing this threat. Notably, the Secure World Foundation’s 2025 ‘Global Counterspace Capabilities’ report highlights that 12 states are continuing the development of counterspace capabilities, blurring the line between defensive and offensive postures in space. Meanwhile, the legal framework governing space remains fragmented, with stalled initiatives like the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) and competing proposals such as the Russia-China draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (PPWT) failing to gain international acceptance. This Catalyst Conversation seeks to dissect these challenges through an academic lens with the following objectives:
- Analyse the technological, strategic, and legal dimensions of ASAT weapons.
- Evaluate the implications of recent ASAT tests and emerging counterspace technologies (e.g., directed-energy systems, cyber-ASAT capabilities, nuclear ASATs etc.).
- Explore pathways for strengthening global space governance, including the role of middle powers and non-state actors.
