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UK Proposes the Creation of a Space Command

January 18, 2021
ExoNews Editor

Article by Nicholas Puschman January 5, 2021 (lexology.com)

• Since the 1967 Outer Space Treaty established the international legal framework for space activities, space has become recognized as a potential domain of warfare. Satellites are increasingly viewed as essential components of critical communications for military and defense purposes, and space-faring countries have made clear the importance of space and space technology to their current and future defense posture.

• In 2019, space was recognized by NATO as the latest operational domain (along with air, land, sea and cyberspace). In October 2020, NATO announced that it would establish a center for space operations at Ramstein airbase in Germany to increase deterrence and defense. While many countries have had space-related functions within existing military branches, both the US and France have recently established new military branches devoted to the strategic and military importance of space. In 2019, the U.S. established Space Force and France formed a new Space Command (Commandement de l’Espace), which supersedes the previous French military service dealing with space.

• In recent years, the UK government has been considering how to develop its capabilities in using space technology and ensuring that space is part of its national defense strategy. In 2019, the UK Ministry of Defence announced several new military space initiatives and published plans for a Defence Space Strategy, noting that “satellites and space-based services are vital to modern life” and that “there would be severe consequences from any disruption, whether by natural or man-made hazards, or intentional threats from hostile states”.

• On November 18, 2020, the UK announced its proposal to establish a new military command dedicated to space. (see previous ExoArticle here) The proposal of a new Royal Air Force (RAF) space command was part of an announcement by the UK Government of the largest defense budget since the Cold War of £16.5 billion over the next four years. The full details of how this new UK space command will be composed, and what it will do, remain to be seen.

• The potential opportunities of a new UK military space command will likely be of interest to industry players, and in particular those involved in the UK spaceport market in relation to commercial spaceflight and spaceports, such as those being established in Scotland. In announcing the new defense budget, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that “we will establish…a new RAF space command, launching British satellites and our first rocket from Scotland in 2022.”

Space has long been recognised as a potential domain of warfare – indeed, it was one of the major motivating factors in establishing the international legal framework for space activities in the form of the Outer Space Treaty 1967. Space continues to be viewed as an area of strategic importance for military capability, and satellites are increasingly viewed as essential components of critical communications for military and defence purposes. In recent years, many space-faring countries and international organisations have made clear the importance of space and space technology to their current and future defence.

At an international level, in 2019, space was recognised by NATO as the latest operational domain (along with air, land, sea and cyberspace) and adopted a new space policy. In October, NATO announced that it would establish a centre for space operations at Ramstein airbase in Germany to increase deterrence and defence.

At a national level, while many countries have long had space-related functions within existing military branches, countries such as the US and France, as two examples, have recently established new military branches to clearly demonstrate the strategic and military importance of space. In 2019, the US established an independent military branch dedicated to space defence, named the US Space Force. In the same year, France formed a new Space Command (Commandement de l’Espace), which supersedes the previous French military service dealing with space.

The UK announces the establishment of a new military command dedicated to space

On 18 November 2020, the UK announced its proposal to establish a new military command dedicated to space, similar to the recent moves taken by allied countries such as France and the US. The proposal of a new Royal Air Force (RAF) space command was part of an announcement by the UK Government of the largest defence budget since the Cold War of £16.5 billion over the next four years.

This announcement is in the continuity of the UK’s national defence strategy

While a new military branch is new, the UK Government has in recent years been considering how to develop its capabilities in using space technology and ensuring that space is part of its national defence strategy. In 2019, the UK Ministry of Defence announced several new military space initiatives and published plans for a Defence Space Strategy, noting that “satellites and space-based services are vital to modern life” and that “there would be severe consequences from any disruption, whether by natural or man-made hazards, or intentional threats from hostile states”.

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Half of Brits Think Planet Should Prepare for an Alien Attack in our Lifetime

March 18, 2020
ExoNews Editor

Article by Steve Richmond March 11, 2020 (thesun.co.uk)

• To mark FOX tv’s new series, ‘War of the Worlds’, the network commissioned the polling company OnePoll to do a research study of 2,000 adults in the UK. The results show that half of Britons believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life and even expect an alien visitation before the year 2068. Londoners, the Welsh and those in the southwest of England were the biggest believers in extraterrestrial life.

• The study also found nearly three quarters of Brits believe that world governments know more about alien life than they’re letting on and are hiding the information from the public. If these world leaders were aware of an impending attack, 58% think they would keep information secret to avoid panic. 67% polled think that our leaders need a plan for first contact with other life forms.

• Of the believers surveyed, 71% think that Earth has already been visited by extraterrestrials, for scientific research, to learn about other life forms, or to plunder the Earth’s resources. 29% of Brits assume the visitors will have a neutral stance on humanity, and they’d be welcomed to Earth.56% expect extraterrestrial visitors to look similar to humans. 17% think that benevolent ETs might even help the planet reverse its ecological damage. But 29% think that other intelligent life have not yet ventured to our little planet.

• On the other hand, 22% of the Brits polled are expecting a perilous extraterrestrial invasion. 46% said they would fight with the human resistance against malevolent aliens, even though only 23% think we’d stand a change against them. 20% said they would cower at home. Over half believe that this event would mark the end of the human race as we know it. In the event of an alien invasion, a whopping 71% of Brits expected more danger still from their fellow humans.

• Nick Pope, who investigated UFOs for the Ministry of Defence said, “These fascinating findings say as much about distrust of government denials on UFOs as they do about people’s belief in extraterrestrial visitation.” But Pope added, “It’s great to see British fighting spirit on display, with this survey suggesting that large numbers of people would resist an alien invasion, even if they don’t think they’d have much hope of winning.”

• “This intriguing new research shows high levels of interest and belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life,” says Pope. “This new survey supports my firm view that there needs to be a government plan for first contact with extraterrestrials – irrespective of whether they turn out to be hostile or friendly. … [I]t’s common sense to have a plan for something when the consequences would be so impactful.”

The study of 2,000 adults found half believe in alien existence, and think the planet should be preparing itself for an attack within the next 50 years – by 2068.

But far from coming in peace, 22 per cent of those are worried for their lives in the event of Martians coming to Earth.

It’s not just UFO’s people need to worry about though, as 71 per cent also suspect they’d face danger from other humans during an invasion.

Of the believers surveyed, 71 per cent think Earth has already been visited at some point by aliens, but 29 per cent imagine they’re yet to make their first landing.

The research was commissioned by TV channel FOX to mark the new series of War of the Worlds, on Thursdays at 9pm.

Nick Pope, who investigated UFOs for the Ministry of Defence said: “These fascinating findings say as much about distrust of government denials on UFOs as they do about people’s belief in extraterrestrial visitation.

“Intriguingly, they also suggest that people who think an alien invasion is possible believe one of the biggest threats would come from fellow survivors.

“This new survey supports my firm view that there needs to be a government plan for first contact with extraterrestrials – irrespective of whether they turn out to be hostile or friendly.

“Even if you think it’s unlikely, it’s common sense to have a plan for something when the consequences would be so impactful.

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