Does Dual Use of Satellites Challenge the Future Space Governance?

Abstract

The dual use of satellite services raises the question about the legitimacy of the counter actions against their functionality during the armed conflict. This article focused on the examination of the content of the key principles of international humanitarian law, i.e. distinction and proportionality, concerning their application to the space activity. In this context, the criterions of pre and post evaluation of input of space services to the military operation were analysed. The risk of creation of a cloud of space debris because of a breach of humanitarian law was also observed. As a result, the suggestion to develop and ratify Additional Protocol IV that would distinguish what constitutes a civilian object from a military objective and determine the scope and extent of damage proportional to the attack, is argued as a means that able to save outer space resource and space services during the space and cyber wars.

Keywords

• security
• distinction
• proportionality
• outer space
• armed conflict