The Commercialisation of Space Surveillance

The recent US Defence Innovation Unit solicitation for commercially built and operated satellites capable of monitoring geosynchronous orbit has sparked debate about the implications of commercial custody of strategic space awareness.

TL;DR
• The US Defence Innovation Unit has solicited commercially built and operated satellites for geosynchronous space domain awareness.
• This initiative reflects a structural transformation in the production of space power, with commercial actors expanding toward operational roles involving proximity operations, inspection, and surveillance.
• The emergence of commercial custody raises questions about who controls strategic knowledge and the implications for global security.

Summary
The US is pushing for commercial satellites to be used for space surveillance, raising questions about who controls strategic knowledge. This initiative involves commercially built and operated satellites that can persistently monitor geosynchronous orbit before being transferred to government ownership within 36 months.

Key points include:
• The use of commercial satellites for space surveillance represents a structural transformation in the production of space power.
• Geosynchronous orbit is a sensitive position in space, providing persistent coverage essential for communications, intelligence relay, and early warning missions.
• The emergence of commercial custody is driven by capability gaps created by the rapid expansion of the global satellite population and cost dynamics.
• Commercially developed satellites can be produced at lower cost and deployed on accelerated timelines, enabling governments to access sensing capabilities more rapidly.

The implications of this shift extend into evolving missile defence and sensing ecosystems, with contemporary strategic sensing increasingly relying on distributed networks integrating terrestrial, airborne, and orbital sensors. The relationship between technological visibility and strategic stability remains complex, with persistent observation of satellites associated with early warning and command functions potentially enhancing anomaly detection and resilience, but also potentially being interpreted as intelligence gathering that exposes vulnerabilities.

Governance considerations further complicate the emerging landscape, with the Outer Space Treaty establishing that states bear international responsibility for national space activities, including those conducted by private entities. As commercial surveillance capabilities expand, governance discussions will need to address the strategic consequences of privately operated sensors observing assets integral to national security.

As the commercialisation of space surveillance continues to evolve, it is essential to consider the strategic consequences of privately operated sensors and the management of dual-use sensing capabilities within contested geopolitical environments.