Mitigating Security Risks and Potential Threats of Emerging Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

ABSTRACT Space actors will increasingly conduct rendezvous and proximity operations in space as the associated technologies advance and diffuse. As this occurs, multiple-use of such capabilities will present inherent security risks and potential threats to existing peaceful space activities. The United States must develop and promote a comprehensive operational and dissuasive construct in advance to mitigate these security risks and threats to stability in space. The inherent multiple-use attributes of rendezvous and proximity operations capabilities mean that the regulatory efforts must focus on regulating behavior and registration practices. In addition, improving space situational awareness alone insufficiently addresses the challenges of verifying compliance with the regulatory framework. There must be thoughtful approaches to expanding the space situational awareness network to partners, declassifying data to increase transparency, and improving communication practices to share data and resolve ambiguity. In addition, a space assurance strategy that includes credible deterrence options to deter those who would seek to undermine the regulatory framework is important.