By 2031, a clash in orbit could happen, and it could cause more than just the destruction of satellites, an expert has warned. It might disrupt signals that direct planes, link remote communities, aid disaster response, and assist financial networks to stay synchronized. With the increasing likelihood of space weaponisation, another stark question comes to mind: could modern life be headed towards a world that feels like the 19th century?
Satellites are the world’s hidden infrastructure
Satellite navigation is used in aviation, shipping, road transport, emergency response, farming, telecommunications and financial services, according to the United Nations. Voice, video and data communications are transmitted via communication satellites around the globe. Damage would not power down everything, but it could slow down travel and essential services and make them less reliable.
The threat is not just for armies. Space-based services are used by civilians, businesses, hospitals, farmers, and emergency teams as well. A satellite that loses its functionality in a crisis can have an impact on individuals who are not on the battlefront.
The weapons and risks are growing
The 2025 Space Threat Assessment reported widespread jamming and spoofing of GPS signals in and around conflict zones, and increasingly advanced manoeuvres by Chinese and Russian satellites. In October 2026, CSIS analysts warned that Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 was on a path to come very close to a US-registered commercial radar satellite supporting Ukraine; its intent remained uncertain.
Destroying satellites can leave a dangerous legacy. In November 2021, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites in an anti-satellite missile test. US Space Command reported more than 1,500 trackable debris pieces, with many smaller fragments also expected. Such debris can threaten other spacecraft for years.
Orbit is already crowded. The European Space Agency’s October 2026 statistics list about 47,140 tracked objects around Earth and estimate 1.5 million pieces of debris measuring between one and 10 centimetres. Even a small fragment can damage a spacecraft travelling at orbital speed.
Rules have not kept pace
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans placing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit. However, it does not create a complete ban on conventional anti-satellite weapons or electronic interference.
In 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on countries not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests. It passed with 155 votes in favour, nine against and nine abstentions. The vote showed broad concern, but countries still need stricter shared rules, transparency and ways to prevent miscalculation.
Space should not become another battlefield where civilian life is held hostage. Governments need clearer limits, better information-sharing and an end to debris-creating tests. In a world built around satellites, protecting space is not only about exploration or national pride. It is about keeping everyday life working on Earth.
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