Dangers…out-of-this-world

By James Tong Sept. 24, 2025

The stars glimmer in the night sky above a crackling campfire in the forest. Above Earth’s quiet skies, satellites silently orbit in a complex network, impossible to see with the naked eye. But on Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, a single satellite turned into a weapon of propaganda. Ukrainians expecting local news had their screens instead filled with Russian tanks and soldiers in the Red Square in an act of intimidation. Space had officially become a place of war and danger to Ukraine—and the world.

Currently, over 12,000 satellites orbit the Earth, serving various purposes: supporting navigation systems such as GPS, broadcasting communications and supporting economic supply chains, according to AP News. They can also support real-time surveillance or even an internet connection, as with SpaceX’s Starlink.

“I rely on satellite technology every day, from the Weather app on my phone to the GPS. If I could not access these, it would really disrupt everyday life in terms of convenience, but satellite problems at a larger scale would definitely have consequences far greater,” Sophomore Calvin Sridhara said.

As a substantial amount of infrastructure depends on satellites, a disruption could bring global consequences. From economic failures in banking systems and supply chains to military breakdowns, satellites are a major vulnerability.

Through manipulation by Russia on a satellite providing television service in Ukraine, hackers in the Kremlin effectively displayed their military power to the Ukrainian public, illustrating how satellite infrastructure is capable of doing significantly more than navigation services or the weather app. The incident ultimately underscores the vulnerability of satellites and the potential of its usage in military campaigns, all while demonstrating Russia’s power to the world.

Russia’s use of satellites was not the first time satellites were used as weapons in military campaigns. According to the Arms Control Association, during the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union conducted Anti-Satellite Weapon (ASAT) missile tests, which were meant to disable satellites for military advantages. Former President Reagan proposed a space missile defense initiative, also known as “Star Wars,” during the 1980s.

National security officials believe Russia is developing a nuclear weapon for space that can destroy almost every low-orbiting satellite at once, per AP News. Though the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 that prohibits nuclear weapons in space, ultimately satellites seem to be weaponized as governments are tracking Russian development.

As such, these changes in the satellite discussion prompt the start of a new space arms race. This involves state competition, such as between Russia and the US, and private companies, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. According to AP News, in 2019, the US formed the Space Force, which is a military branch dedicated to American dominance in space.

“Space development should be led by government organizations because companies are less regulated with differing goals. Especially since space is an international territory, it is logical for countries to manage it. However, it could be difficult to enforce space laws, where a country’s dominance in space could pose major tensions,” Junior Avi Parkhe said.

In the future, space could become an increasingly dangerous field of competition among countries, as it could lead to resource-driven conflict or systematic disruption of satellites. Moreover, space debris could pose risks as the number of satellites launched increases. If left unchecked, space weaponization may create serious risks for civilian life and have potential for devastating military escalation.

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About the Contributor

James Tong

Page Editor

James Tong is a junior at Leland High School and the Opinions and Feature US Page Editor for The Charger Account. He enjoys swimming, biking, drawing, hanging out with friends and following all the latest news in F1.