Space Security Index

distribution system that provides alert and location data to national search-and-rescue
authorities worldwide, with no discrimination, independent of country participation in the
management of the program. 205 Similarly, states including Canada and Norway have begun
to develop satellite systems to better collect and track Automated Identication System
signals for collision avoidance. Satellite receivers for such signals could improve search-andrescue
eorts, as well as ship surveillance for security purposes. 206
On 14 December 2006, the UNGA agreed to establish the United Nations Platform
for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-
SPIDER). Its ocial mission statement is to “ensure that all countries and international and
regional organizations have access to and develop the capacity to use all types of space-based
information to support the full disaster management cycle.” e 2010–2011 work plan for
UN-SPIDER was adopted in April 2009.
2010 Development
Satellite navigation systems around the globe continue to evolve
e development of the Russian navigation system GLONASS marked its fteenth
anniversary in 2010. 207 ree GLONASS satellites were successfully launched on 1 March
and their frequencies activated within a couple of weeks. 208 ree more were launched on 2
September, with two slated for operational use and one serving as backup. 209 e GLONASS
constellation of satellites was to have been complete by the end of the year — which would
have allowed the system’s coverage to be global210 — but failure to put three more satellites
of the new generation (GLONASS-K211 ) in orbit made it impossible to meet the target.
e three-satellite launch was attempted on 5 December, but suddenly failed when the
Proton-M rocket deviated eight degrees from course and fell into the Pacic Ocean. 212
Following the failure, Anatoli Perminov, head of Roscosmos, said that despite the “heavy
loss,” which analysts have estimated at $160-million, GLONASS would be fully operational
after only a three-month delay. 213 In 2011, the program is scheduled to receive an additional
60 billion rubles. 214 Russia also maintains the position that GLONASS should complement
rather than replace (or serve as an alternative to) the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). 215
China’s rst satellite for the Compass (or Beidou 2) navigation system was launched on 17
January, 216 and was followed by launches in June, 217 July, 218 October, 219 and December. 220
e constellation now has a total of seven satellites in orbit, with 10 expected by 2012. 221
Japan also launched the rst navigation satellite of a planned Quasi-Zenith Satellite System
(QZSS) that augments GPS over East Asia. 222 India launched the rst satellite of a planned
24-satellite navigation system in August. 223 ESA signed major contracts with the European
industry 224 to build Galileo operational infrastructure. Europe continues to be opposed
to the overlay of portions of the Galileo signal by signals from China’s Compass system.
International consultations in recent years have not shown a willingness of either party to
move or modify their respective signals. 225
2010 Development
Development continues on disaster relief and remote sensing capabilities
An increasing number of Earth Observation (EO) missions are planned for the coming years.
South Korea plans to launch a radar satellite, the primary mission of which is generation of
high resolution (1 meter) data to facilitate development of Korean geographic information
systems, as well as monitoring climate, ocean, land, and disaster management. 226 Its launch
Civil Space Programs
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