BBC Inside Science How is war being fought in space?
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Mar 5, 2026 Jodie Howlett, who leads in-orbit manufacturing at the UK Space Agency, discusses making medicines and materials in microgravity. Everett Dolman, professor of space strategy and former Space Command member, explains how warfare in orbit could use jamming, lasers and non-kinetic attacks while avoiding debris. They talk risks to space infrastructure and practical paths for space-based manufacturing.
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Lasers And Jamming Will Define Space Conflict
- Future space conflicts will favour non-kinetic attacks like jamming and blinding rather than blowing up satellites.
- Dolman highlights directed energy and laser communications will make jamming harder and push confrontations toward denial and blinding techniques.
Debris Makes Kinetic Attacks Self-Defeating
- Nations prefer non-destructive measures in space because debris harms everyone and creates long-term hazards.
- Dolman warns kinetic attacks produce persistent debris that 'will come back and bite' the attacker and cites sand orbits and paint fleck damage as examples.
Shuttle Window Pit Shows How Small Debris Is Deadly
- Dolman uses the space shuttle window pit from a paint fleck to show how tiny debris can damage spacecraft.
- He suggests directed energy could nudge such particles into the atmosphere to burn up, effectively 'cleaning up' space.