A war could break out in space within the next:Several countries, including the US and China, are preparing; internet and banking services could be affected

A war could break out in space in the next five years, experts have warned. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and China could target one another’s satellites. Many services, including the internet, television, weather information and banking, depend on satellites. If satellites are damaged during a war, these services could be affected. Aircraft and ships could also face difficulties in determining their routes. Why is the arms race in space intensifying? Five Chinese satellites conducted an exercise together According to the US Space Force, five Chinese satellites moved close to one another in space and carried out activities that could be used in military operations. China is developing machines that can capture other satellites in space or dislodge them from their positions. Russian military satellites are also moving close to satellites belonging to other countries and monitoring them. United Kingdom creates unit to protect space Britain’s air force established a special unit in September to protect its satellites. The European Space Agency is also focusing on security and military-related uses in its plans. The United States established its Space Force in 2019. Its role is to protect US satellites and monitor the military activities of other countries in space. New technology being developed to disable satellites Countries are developing technologies that can disrupt the operations of other satellites. These include lasers, devices that block radio signals and machines capable of capturing other satellites in space. Some countries have also tested missiles capable of destroying satellites. These include: How can an attack be carried out in space? By blocking GPS signals Radio signals transmitted by satellites can be blocked. This may affect services that show locations on mobile phones, guide aircraft and track ships. Incidents of GPS signal interference have been reported during the Russia-Ukraine war. By sending false location signals An attacker can send fake signals to provide an aircraft, ship or other equipment with an incorrect location. This is known as spoofing. It can provide navigation systems with incorrect information and make it difficult to identify the correct route. By attacking the computers that operate satellites Satellites are controlled from ground-based centres. Hackers can attack the computer systems at these centres. This can sever communication with a satellite, lead to the theft of vital information or disrupt its functioning.