Arirang Satellite Nearly Shattered by US Satellite Debris... Space Is 'At War' Now [Reading Science]

NASA robotic arm removing space debris. Photo by NASA

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Although it appears peaceful, the space above our heads is currently at ‘war.’ This is because an era has dawned where nothing can be done without satellites due to advancements in science and information and communication technology (ICT). Among the world’s major powers, an invisible but fierce ‘battle’ is underway to protect their own satellites and damage those of hostile countries. As space debris has become vast, it has also emerged as a major concern for space safety. South Korea plans to launch over 100 satellites by 2030, officially opening the satellite era with the introduction of the Korean Positioning System (KPS) and 6G ultra-high-speed communication networks. Satellite security is becoming more important than ever.

◆ The Arirang Satellite Nearly Destroyed by Satellite Debris

On November 30 last year, the staff of the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Research Office at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) began their daily work as usual but were startled by a message from the United States. The notification, issued by the U.S. Space Command’s Combined Space Operations Center, warned that a 10cm-sized fragment generated from a U.S. satellite was approaching and could collide with South Korea’s Arirang-3 satellite. The SSA staff immediately went into emergency mode and calculated the actual collision probability, concluding it was higher than the threshold of 1/1000. Consequently, on December 4, an emergency avoidance maneuver was executed for the Arirang-3 satellite. Upon reaching the Korean Peninsula’s airspace that day, the Arirang-3 satellite changed its orbit by consuming 100g of fuel under SSA’s command, successfully avoiding the satellite debris. This averted a crisis that could have destroyed a national asset worth billions of won.

Space debris orbiting the Earth travels at an incredible speed of over 7 km/s, much faster than a bullet, regardless of its size. If a collision occurs, the satellite would suffer a fatal blow. Fortunately, this time the satellite avoided damage, but such risks can arise at any time. According to KARI, eight government-owned satellites perform avoidance maneuvers two to three times annually to prevent collisions with artificial satellites or space debris by consuming fuel. Last year alone, Arirang-2 conducted an avoidance maneuver around October, marking two such incidents.

A hole in the space shuttle Endeavour. In 2007, during a round-trip mission to the International Space Station (ISS), it collided with space debris, creating a hole approximately 5.5mm in diameter on the radiator panel. (Source: NASA)

◆ Cleaning Debris or Intercepting Satellites?

Space debris threatening our satellites is not a simple issue. There are about 20,000 pieces larger than 10cm, and the number is rapidly increasing. Besides the inherent danger, it has evolved into an important threat factor in satellite security as it develops into satellite interception technology. In fact, China successfully removed the malfunctioning Beidou-2 G2 navigation satellite using the Shijian (Shijian) 21 satellite, launched in February under the pretext of ‘space debris cleaning.’ The U.S. government regards this as a de facto satellite interception system and watches it warily. In space, debris and satellites orbit similarly. If debris can be removed, it is equally possible to locate and remove an enemy’s satellite. That is, docking with, towing, and guiding an enemy satellite into the atmosphere or the ‘satellite graveyard orbit’ (about 300 km) to destroy it. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recommended last month that the U.S. increase its deterrence and focused investment, stating, “China’s satellite interception capabilities have recently grown dramatically, posing a significant challenge to U.S. space security.”

Other countries are also engaging in space debris cleanup. The European Space Agency (ESA) is partnering with Swiss private venture ClearSpace, investing about 120 billion won to start cleaning low Earth orbit space debris from 2025. Japan’s startup Astroscale is developing a project to launch robotic satellites to clean space debris, commissioned by NASA and ESA. Having received about 220 billion won in investment, it has already succeeded in experiments and plans to begin actual cleanup operations soon.

◆ Global Satellite Weapon Development in Full Swing

In addition, technologies to protect one’s own satellites and attack hostile satellites in space are actively being researched. A representative method is launching missiles from ground, air, or sea to directly strike targets in space. In November last year, Russia succeeded in destroying its own satellite with a missile, and China conducted a similar experiment in 2007. Like China’s Shijian 21 satellite, satellites can rendezvous and dock in the same orbit to monitor, attack, or interfere with targets. Methods also include firing energy beams such as lasers to alter or crash satellites’ orbits and using powerful electromagnetic waves to disrupt communications and mission operations.

According to the Secure World Foundation, major powers such as China, Russia, and the U.S. are actively researching and developing such anti-satellite weapon systems and are at the stage of deployment. A representative case was last July when an ESA satellite passing near Ukraine was subjected to radio interference presumed to be electronic warfare from Russia. China also deployed satellite jamming systems in disputed areas with India last year and possesses radio jamming capabilities that can disrupt satellite-based GPS and communication satellites, as well as missile capabilities to directly destroy satellites. Even North Korea is reportedly developing electronic warfare (radio jamming) technology recently.

◆ How Are Our Satellites Managed?

South Korea currently operates eight government satellites through KARI: five low Earth orbit satellites (Multipurpose Practical Satellites 2, 3, 3A, 5, and Next-Generation Medium Satellite 1) and three geostationary satellites (Cheollian 1, 2A, 2B). Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense operates the military communication satellite Anasis-2, and KT manages the Mugunghwa satellites. Among these, government satellites such as Arirang, Cheollian, and Next-Generation Medium Satellites are managed through the ‘Satellite Information Utilization Promotion Committee,’ which includes relevant ministries under the Ministry of Science and ICT. According to the Space Development Promotion Act, KARI’s ‘National Satellite Information Utilization Support Center’ is responsible for satellite and ground station operations, satellite information distribution, and utilization promotion. The SSA is a department within the center, responsible for 24-hour satellite control and communication. Since low Earth orbit satellites pass over the Korean Peninsula only two to three times a day, staff must monitor satellite status, issue commands, and receive imaging data during those times, often working overnight as a matter of course. Especially with the activation of private space development, the dramatic increase of satellites and space debris in Earth’s orbit, and the expansion of satellite applications marking the ‘New Space’ era, those managing and operating satellites and ensuring safety are on high alert.

OWL-Net Unit 4, a space object monitoring network established by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

◆ Now at the Surveillance Network Establishment Stage

However, South Korea currently lacks direct means to respond to satellite security threats from hostile countries. It also cannot independently obtain information on whether foreign satellites or hazardous objects such as space debris are approaching its satellites in space. Since 2015, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute has operated the Orbital Weather and Lunar Network (OWL-Net), but it can only identify large objects like asteroids. The Air Force introduced and operationalized an electro-optical satellite surveillance system in December last year and early this year, which can track space objects passing over Korean airspace by irradiating lasers. However, for now, the best option is to cooperate with the international space surveillance network (SSN), which includes the U.S. and countries worldwide, to obtain information. In particular, if a hostile country attacks our satellites, there is practically no way to physically prevent it.

Jung Ok-cheol, head of KARI’s SSA Research Office, said, “So far, South Korea’s government satellites have not experienced safety threats from hostile countries’ satellite interception weapons or operational difficulties such as radio interference,” adding, “Since the United Nations (UN) also emphasizes peaceful use of space and sustainable space management, it is urgent to introduce a space traffic management system to ensure space is safe and sustainable over the long term.”