Orbital Watch: A Bold Plan to Defend US Satellites From Attack

The launch of Orbital Watch by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command feels like a jolt of reality piercing through the haze of our terrestrial concerns. On March 21, this initiative burst onto the scene, delivering unclassified threat information to over 900 commercial space companies. It’s a move that signals a stark truth: the cosmos is no longer a distant frontier but a contested battleground where our national security hangs in the balance.

This isn’t just about satellites drifting silently above us; it’s about safeguarding the arteries of our modern world, from GPS navigation to global communications. The Space Force, through its Front Door office, has recognized that the private sector isn’t merely a bystander, it’s a vital partner in this fight. By sharing critical data on cyber intrusions, electronic warfare, and adversarial on-orbit maneuvers, Orbital Watch empowers companies to fortify their systems against threats that grow more insidious by the day.

For too long, the narrative around space has been dominated by starry-eyed dreams of exploration. Now, we’re forced to confront a grittier reality. Nations like Russia and China aren’t just flexing their muscles on Earth; they’re extending their reach into orbit, wielding tools that could cripple our infrastructure. Orbital Watch isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, a lifeline for a society that depends on space more than it realizes.

The beauty of Orbital Watch lies in its embrace of collaboration. This isn’t the government hoarding secrets in some shadowy bunker; it’s a deliberate choice to extend a hand to industry. Col. Richard Kniseley, a senior leader at the Space Systems Command, hit the nail on the head when he tied this effort to broader Defense Department strategies. The private sector, with its rapid innovation and scalable tech, holds the key to outpacing adversaries who’d love nothing more than to see our satellites go dark.

Look at the evidence piling up. Cybersecurity experts have tracked a surge in threats, from jamming signals to hijacking satellites, often traced back to state actors with little regard for international norms. The 2022 ViaSat attack during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wasn’t an anomaly, it was a warning shot. Orbital Watch counters this by arming companies with the knowledge to build resilience into their designs, a move that echoes the Biden-era push for public-private unity against cyber threats, now carried forward with urgency.

Some might argue this openness risks tipping our hand to enemies. They’re wrong. Sharing unclassified data doesn’t weaken us; it strengthens the collective armor of our space ecosystem. The Space Force isn’t naive, it’s strategic, rolling out this program in phases to refine its approach. The beta phase already delivers quarterly risk assessments, and soon, a secure Commercial Portal will enable two-way communication, turning companies into active sentinels rather than passive targets.

Historical lessons back this up. NASA’s partnerships during the Apollo era showed what’s possible when government and industry align. Today, that legacy evolves into a dynamic defense network. The Space Infrastructure Act of February 2025, designating space systems as critical infrastructure, underscores the stakes. We’re not just protecting hardware; we’re safeguarding democracy’s lifeline against autocratic disruption.

Contrast this with the alternative: a siloed, militarized space domain where corporations are left in the dark, vulnerable to attacks they can’t see coming. That’s the vision skeptics cling to, one rooted in outdated notions of control. Orbital Watch rejects that, betting on transparency and trust to forge a resilient future. It’s a gamble that pays off when you consider how commercial systems like Starlink have already proven their worth in crises like Ukraine.

Victor Vigliotti, the director of Front Door, didn’t mince words when he called Orbital Watch the dawn of a new era. He’s right. The speed of our adversaries, from China’s co-orbital maneuvers to India’s counterspace tests, demands we move faster. This isn’t about fearmongering; it’s about facing facts. The ENISA report lays bare the vulnerabilities in legacy systems, supply chains ripe for exploitation, and the Space Force is stepping up to close those gaps.

What’s at stake here isn’t abstract. It’s the farmer relying on satellite weather data, the family streaming news from halfway across the globe, the soldier navigating hostile terrain with GPS. Orbital Watch ensures these threads of modern life don’t unravel under attack. By integrating commercial ingenuity into national security, it’s a blueprint for how we tackle other looming crises, from climate change to cyberwarfare.

The naysayers, often those wary of government overreach, might grumble that this pulls private firms too deep into the military’s orbit. Their caution misses the point. In a world where space threats don’t distinguish between public and private, isolation isn’t an option, it’s a death sentence. Collaboration isn’t entanglement; it’s survival.

Orbital Watch isn’t a finished product, it’s a living commitment. As it scales up, with plans to increase the frequency of threat updates and deepen industry ties, it signals a shift toward a hybrid security model that’s long overdue. The Space Force’s $15.6 billion budget isn’t just buying weapons; it’s investing in a future where our cosmic presence endures against all odds.

This is our moment to rally behind a vision that prioritizes resilience over retreat, partnership over paranoia. Orbital Watch proves that protecting space isn’t a solo mission, it’s a shared fight. For every citizen who looks to the stars, for every worker whose job ties back to those orbiting machines, this initiative is a promise: we won’t let the lights go out.