The main purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between the EU and UK in terms of space defence policy developed from the viewpoint of historical institutionalism. As a research objective, it is intended to assess the nature of historical institutionalism as a concept and its applications to space defence policy. Another objective is to trace the historical development of the relationships between the EU and the UK in the space sector. Finally, this historical development is discussed through the lens of historical institutionalism. The attainment of these aims and objectives requires an optimal choice of methodology and research design. This study has been guided by the principles of interpretivism, a dominant philosophical stance in social studies. This philosophy emphasises the role of interpretations in the attainment of knowledge due to a lack of absolute truth, as according to interpretivism, the truth depends on the observer and their interpretations. In line with this philosophical stance, this research is conducted using an inductive approach, which stipulates theory development, hypothesis formulation, or new proposition statements based on observations. This contrasts with deductive testing of existing research hypotheses. The choice of an inductive approach has...

The growth in orbital debris has been predicted since the dawn of the space age. Now the debris fields cascade through orbits and the risk of collision is on an infinite upward trajectory. This thesis will examine what impact a wider concept of space security can have our understanding of orbital debris and the space security agenda. The space security agenda is in a state a flux as it seeks the most effective way to deal with the threat posed by orbital debris. A traditionally narrow approach of security would see debris discarded as a security threat due to its limited threat to a state. However, a broader approach would see aspects of environmental security emerge, allowing both public and private sectors to act to solve this crisis. There is a sizeable void in the literature that links policy and science when analysing orbital debris. Therefore, when applying the theory, it is best to find consensus and collaboration. The Copenhagen and Welsh Schools of International Security offer opposing views initially. Nonetheless, when examined closely they reveal similarities that allow for a 'hybrid' theory to emerge. The international challenges to legal and policy changes are diverse and complex. Consequently, the significance of transparency and confidence- building measures to lead space policy and...

The politics of outer space has in recent years been given attention from political elites and scientist due to increasing usage and reliance on space based assets, and due to increasing numbers of actors trying to utilize the benefits of space. Concerns have been raised if the increasing military usage of space will lead to a future weaponization of space, making some political leaders and scholars claiming the inevitability of space weaponization.  In this thesis I investigate why the United States of America this far has chosen not to weaponize space based on the strategical setting of outer space politics. The research question guiding this thesis reads: What strategic considerations explain the US decision not to weaponize outer space? In order to evaluate the strategic setting and US strategical considerations I apply Game Theory and Non-Formal Rational Choice Theory to highlight what is causing the greatest space faring nation not to weaponize space. I empirically base this study on official space policy documents and one report written by an official commission to asses US national security space management.  Based on the strategic setting of outer space politics and US strategical considerations it is found that the US has not commenced a process leading to the weaponization of space since such development would not increase its national security, but rather in several ways decrease it. I conclude that a process of space weaponization is not likely to be initiated by the US in the current strategical setting.

The thesis considered the feasibility of space warfare with an emphasis on the malicious potential of dual-use technology. I have described the orbital principles and set the presumptions of space warfare and the principles for space warfare strategy, introduced dual- use technology and its connections to space weapons, elaborated on existing counterspace capabilities and its impact, described the challenges for space warfare and evaluated the utilization of dual-use technology as space weapons. I have reached the conclusion that current space technology does not allow to lead extensive space warfare. However, counterspace technology is mature enough for the conduct of destructive space operations and states are encouraged to proliferate advanced offensive counterspace capabilities that are not sufficiently addressed and bounded to international law. Though, despite it seems space warfare is unlikely, the growing tensions of state space actors and rapid development of new technology that is currently mostly driven by the commercial actors may soon change the situation. Potentially destructive dual-use technology may then increase the risk and probability of space warfare. The thesis proposed several options of potentially destructive dual-technology technology that could be turned into space weapons.

The Outer Space Treaty established the obligation to provide continuing supervision of its national space activities by the appropriate state. The implementation of this obligation remains a matter of state discretion. Since this Treaty came into force the world has evolved to become reliant on space based utilities to enable the global economy and state governance. Today, space faring states are increasingly dependent upon the supervision practices of other states to assure its space interests as the attribution of state responsibility becomes more difficult to ascribe. / Therefore, the absence of binding supervision standards may become an impediment to future space applications due to three identified trends. First, the trend towards space commercialization requires active state supervision. Second, the rise in environmental hazards requires minimal safety standards to decrease the harmful effects on space applications. Third, space security requires identification of intentional acts and prudent measures to safeguard vital space applications.

In this work, we focus on securing communication over wireless data networks from malicious eavesdroppers, using smart antennas. While conventional cryptography based approaches focus on hiding the meaning of the information being communicated from the eavesdropper, we consider a complimentary class of strategies that limit knowledge of the existence of the information from the eavesdropper. We profile the performance achievable using simple beamforming strategies using a newly defined metric called exposure region. We then present three strategies within the context of an approach called 'virtual arrays of physical arrays' to significantly improve the exposure region performance of a wireless LAN environment. Using simulations, analysis, and field experiments, we validate and evaluate the proposed strategies.

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Cyber attacks can target any nodes of the space infrastructure, and while these attacks are called non-violent, there is a credible capability to use cyber attacks to cause direct or indirect physical damage, injury or death. However, the vulnerability of satellites and other space assets to cyber attack is often overlooked, which is a significant failing given society's substantial and ever increasing reliance on satellite technologies. Through a policy analysis, this dissertation assess the set of political provisions provided by the European Union to address the cyber security issue of the space infrastructure. Such study aims at exploring the geopolitical consequences linked to space cyber security risks, and at assessing the political preparedness of the European Union to address these challenges. The perspective of transatlantic cooperation to further support both American and European effort to tackle this security risk is also addressed. The overarching value of the study is to contribute to future European cyber security for space and transatlantic debates by providing useful perspectives and key takeaways on these two domains. Ultimately, he existing set of policies are not sufficient to address the cyber security issue in Outer Space, a unified approach by the European Union and the United...

Space technologies and the tools of space warfare are proliferating across Earth. The use of spacepower in conflict necessitates strategic thinking. Strategic theory can guide and improve strategic thought about outer space. Drawing on strategic theory, this thesis develops a spacepower theory in the next step of a collective theory-making effort about warfare in the Space Age. This spacepower theory is based on seven distinct, complementary, and interacting propositions that aim to shift the debate of spacepower away from space weaponisation and the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), and towards a more holistic view of the vast possibilities granted by spacepower. This spacepower theory proposes that space warfare only has meaning in so far it works towards the command of space; that the command of space is about manipulating celestial lines of communication; that spacepower in Earth orbit is a place to conduct strategic manoeuvres to influence the wider war and grand strategic goals; and that the command of space can have direct meaning for battlefield success through its dispersing effects. The theory is based on three major strategic analogies from terrestrial strategic theory and experience. First, space warfare is a continuation of terrestrial politics. Second, space is like the sea in its most basic concepts. Third, Earth orbit is like a coastal region. The contributions of this work are a theory that assists the individual’s education on warfare in the Space Age that takes emphasis away from space-based weaponry and the RMA, and a treatise that demonstrates and encourages a pedagogical method of analysis in strategic studies. This has tentative implications for wider discussions of astropolitics in International Relations (IR) as well. IR will continue in its usefulness in the cosmos, while Terran IR today must account for the realities of the Space Age.

CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies Department of International Security Studies Contemporary Challenges of Space Debris Removal: Overview and Outlook Abstract in English Author: Eliška Vojáková Study programme: Security Studies Supervisor: Mgr. Bohumil Doboš, Ph.D. Year of the defence: 2021 Abstract The sustainability of the outer space environment is necessary for all actors to execute all existing and future human space operations safely. While the severe negative consequences of the uncontrolled space debris population are not new, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations' initiatives to lessen the predicament continue to be insufficient. Scientific research and simulation models show that mere mitigation measures cannot stop the ongoing degradation of the outer space environment polluted from the past space missions. Instead, research supports the development of space projects designed with a primary objective to remove debris from space. National administrations attempt to cooperate at the international level to formulate uniform debris mitigation standards and hold each other mutually accountable for worsening the space debris situation. However, joint public international missions to actively remove debris remain unthinkable. The privatization...