[Baking Typewriter] Space Has Already Become a Battlefield

Another Border Etched Among the Stars
Clashes of Power and Interests Rooted in Technological Supremacy

Space may seem infinite, but the "usable" area surrounding Earth is limited. While it appears to be a resource that anyone can freely enjoy, in reality, it is strictly managed and fiercely contested. This space no longer belongs to everyone. Its fate is determined by who claims it first, making it a commons where destinies are decided. Throughout human history, such spaces have always been arenas of inequality and monopoly. That is why this book discusses the "space war"-not the battles with aliens depicted in science fiction films, but the real-world conflicts over power and interests surrounding space development.

The author, Choi Eunjeong, Director of the Space Hazard Monitoring Center at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, is an expert with both field and theoretical experience. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees through research on satellite collision risks and orbital determination, respectively. She developed satellite payload software, including for the Arirang 2 satellite at Korea Aerospace Industries, and participated in the development of export satellites such as DubaiSat at Satrec Initiative, establishing herself as a space engineer. She has served as a member of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council's Public Space Committee and the Basic Research Promotion Council. Since 2014, she has represented Korea as a delegate to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Director Choi previously warned of the side effects of space development through her book "Space Debris Is Coming." In this new book, she goes a step further. She meticulously examines the institutional gaps and power struggles hidden behind the romance of space development and technological innovation. The book carries a sense of urgency, urging humanity not to repeat in space the same mistakes made during the process of taking root on Earth.

Just like during the Cold War era, space has once again become the front line of the arms race. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the "Golden Dome" defense system, which involves deploying weapons in outer space for the first time in American history. This marked the moment when the battlefield expanded from Earth to space. In response, China announced that it is developing its own "Chinese Golden Dome System," capable of tracking missiles launched toward its territory from anywhere in the world.

Orbits and frequencies surrounding Earth are core resources and essential spaces in the competition for space. Although there are principles and legal registration structures for equitable distribution under international agreements, in practice, these resources are occupied according to national power. In particular, the share of low Earth orbit satellites-a highly valuable asset-serves as an indicator of inequality among nations. In the case of geostationary orbits, the United States, China, and Europe already control 80 percent.

The gap in space technology is not simply a matter of money and time. The more experience, failures, and know-how are accumulated and repeatedly learned from early on, the more sophisticated the technology becomes. In this process, the disparity in the "cost of failure" that countries can bear widens. The author points out that this is the essence of the technological gap in space. Within a closed supply chain for space technology, latecomer countries find it difficult to catch up through effort alone and risk falling into technological dependence.

Such gaps soon become an issue of sovereignty. Core functions of modern society-such as GPS, communications, and disaster response-are all based on space technology. The more countries and companies rely on space infrastructure monopolized by a few, the more technological dependence deepens into technological subjugation. The case of Elon Musk's SpaceX satellite network becoming a lifeline for the Ukrainian military during the war with Russia is a clear example. At least in daily life and security, space inequality has already become a reality.

As satellites crowd into low Earth orbit, the possibility of collisions increases. Debris from such collisions raises the density of objects in orbit, amplifying the risk even further. Eventually, Earth could become surrounded by space debris to the extent that space exploration itself becomes impossible. This is the "Kessler Syndrome," considered the worst-case scenario in space development. The question this book raises is clear: Will humanity turn space into yet another arena for exploitation, or will we manage it as a shared asset for our collective future? The author quietly but firmly asserts that a "sustainable space" is not an ideal, but a practical task that must be chosen before it is too late.