Space Security

Dr. Robert. G. Williscroft, a Sci-Fi adventurer, and author of the book, Slingshot, participate in Risk Roundup to discuss Space Security.

Space Security

Since the beginning of the use of scientific times, nations’ use of space was more of a demonstration of science and technology superiority than anything else. While this technology demonstration was a means to gain global prestige and power, that is no longer the case today, as space technology is effectively being used as a foundation to build systems that are vital to nations’ economic survival and sustainability.

Space is now a contested common. It has become a vital part of most nations’ economic infrastructure. Almost every nation today has its satellites in space or has a stake in space or is trying to have a stake in space. The use of space has now entered a phase where nations and all its components, not only depend on it for its national security and telecommunications but also for many other systems for all kinds of advances for their governments, industries, organizations, and academia (NGIOA). As a result, the relevance of space to the survival of humanity is increasingly becoming self-evident.

Due to connected computers, computer code, and the internet, today, cyberspace, geospace, and space (CGS) are interconnected, and the interconnected CGS world is dependent on the space infrastructure. As the CGS systems evolve further; along with geospace and cyberspace, space will also be exposed to additional strategic competition, security vulnerabilities, and even conflict.

The reliance of the current and emerging CGS systems on space is so profound that only a few hours of space-based asset disruption by hackers or space warfare could crash the financial markets and systems, causing billions of dollars in losses. This could very well endanger human survival.

While space assets provide the technological backbone for critical infrastructures across cyberspace, geospace and space, it is important to evaluate whether space security and sustainability need to be a priority for everyone. It is time to focus on space security.

For more please watch the Risk Roundup Webcast or hear the Risk Roundup Podcast

About the Guest

Robert G. Williscroft, Ph.D. is a polar explorer, submarine, deep-sea diver, scientist, businessman, author of several published books and hundreds of articles, and a life-long adventurer. He served twenty-three years in the U.S. Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). His life is an ongoing adventure with worldly experiences including (but not limited to) having spent 22 months UNDERWATER on nuclear submarines, 13 months at the geographic South Pole conducting atmospheric research, 3 years’ shipboard in the Arctic, and 1 year shipboard on the equator conducting ocean floor studies! He has written extensively on terrorism and space-related subjects.

About Risk Group

Risk Group is a leading strategic security risk research and reporting organization.

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