Russia, China, India and the United States have tested antisatellite missiles and several major world powers have developed technology meant to disrupt signals in space. One Chinese satellite has a robotic arm that could destroy or move other satellites.
Global positioning satellites serve as clocks in the sky, and their signals have become fundamental to the global economy. Unlike China, the United States does not have a Plan B for civilians should those signals get knocked out.
Jonathan Masters leads writers and editors who produce wide-ranging content for CFR.org, including Backgrounders, visual stories, and events. He also writes on foreign policy and national security and his work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, the Atlantic, and Bloomberg. Masters has a BA in political science from Emory University and an MA in social theory from the New School. He is a term member of CFR and a member of the Overseas Press Club.