Global Space Trends 2023

This triannual report provides an overview of the ongoing development within the space domain and covers global trends, technology, and policy. A paradigm shift is underway where more and more countries declare space as an operational domain alongside ground, sea, air and cyber. This means that more countries adapt their military organizations and doctrines in order to better train and prepare for establishing a capability to conduct military operations against, via, and in space. This paradigm shift is not limited to the space domain but will affect all other operational domains. Large state actors have already declared that attacks against their strategically important space systems can be considered as an act of war and can be cause for retaliation in other domains. The report describes this ongoing operationalization of the space domain, arms control, commercialization, statistics of satellites and launches, developments among the major space powers, deterrence theory in a space context and the intersection between AI, law and space. The report also highlights the importance of Sweden managing space activities through a whole-of-government approach where interests, requirements and synergies for the civil, military, commercial and intelligence sectors are all taken into account.