Sabre Rattling in Space: A South Asian Perspective

This book offers historical and theoretical context of the path followed by States, from space militarization to weaponization, and deconstructs traditional security paradigm myths to prove that a paradigm shift has been brought because of deadly space weapons developed by major space powers. It reconciles that the strategic distrust between two leading space competitors, U.S. and China, has prompted them to pursue counter-space capabilities. The ripple effect of this troubling relation in space is not limited at the global level, but has witnessed a trickledown effect on regional security. In relation to this, the book offers details of the Indian space program including its military space ambitions, and provides information about Pakistan’s objectives in space. It offers an overview of challenges to international space governance and how the structural flaws help states to aggressively follow a path toward space weaponization. Additionally, it discusses the UN negotiating arms control measures in space and the politics of states not to negotiate prevention of an arms race in outer space.

The book is a useful contribution to space security, from both traditional and contemporary approaches, covering history, theory, and application. It provides an academic as well as practical approach carrying appeal for professionals, experts, opinion makers, industry, academics, teachers, policy makers, politicians and masses from other walks of life who are interests in space security.

Dr Ahmad Khan has completed his PhD degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies at the Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He has co-authored seven international publications in impact factor journals on space and nuclear studies including two book chapters in the 'Handbook of Space Security', published by Springer. He is a visiting faculty member in the same department. Previously, he was visiting fellow at South Asia Center, Atlantic Council, US.

Dr. Eligar Sadeh is an Aerospace professional and founder and President of Astroconsulting International. Sadeh is Editor of the academic journal Astropolitics  and an adjunct professor, teaching courses in astrophysics, aerospace engineering, technology development, project management, and astropolitics.  Sadeh has held professorships in the Center for Space Studies at the University of Colorado; College of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota; and in the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies U.S. Air Force Academy. Sadeh was a Systems Engineer for Lockheed Martin Space Systems working on NASA spacecraft and served as a Research Associate at George Washington University. Sadeh holds a PhD from Colorado State University. Sadeh founded the Astropolitics Institute in 2019 to promote the discipline.