Space activities are a generic term for human activities in space, usually defined as all activities occurring more than 100 kilometres from Earth. There are 11 space states, which means countries that have launched their own satellites into orbit using their own launchers. Additionally, about 30 countries have their own satellites in space. In 2024, there were nearly 80 different government space agencies worldwide, including more than 70 national space agencies and several international organizations.

France

The French Space Defence Centre (Commandement de l’Espace, CdE) is a body of the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’air et de l’espace) command unit, established in 2010. Although France’s space budget has not increased since the early 2000s, it remains the largest among the member countries of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the second largest (after the United States), totalling 2.33 billion EUR.

The French National Space Agency (Centre national d’études spatiales, CNES) is currently collaborating with other space agencies on several projects, including orbital telescope missions (INTERnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory INTEGRAL, XMM-Newton, and COROT) and space-probe missions (Mars Express, Venus Express, Cassini-Huygens and Rosetta). CNES has collaborated with NASA, for example, on the Earth observation satellite PARASOL and the environment and weather-monitoring satellite CALIPSO.

France has long had a space programme and military satellites but has only recently developed offensive and defensive space capabilities. France’s first space defence strategy (2019) illustrates this development.

https://www.defense.gouv.fr/en/cde/our-military-space-operations

Young, Makena: The Evolution of French Space Security. CSIS 2024:
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-03/240314_Young_French_Space.pdf?VersionId=Hgp45Ofy7JgGJFdpPxlCrB27PuRMRmb6

Britain

The UK Space Command (UKSC) is part of the Air Force and is based in RAF High Wycombe. It employs personnel from the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force. Space Command collects, analyses and evaluates space data to support British and Allied forces. The operations centre monitors the safety of its own satellites and orbital events, including possible satellite collisions and the return of objects to the atmosphere.

Through its programmes, the UK Space Agency supports investments in the space sector, the implementation of space missions and capabilities, and the defence of space. For example, the LaunchUK programme is a British satellite launch programme that helps to increase Britain’s market for small satellites and low trajectories.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/what-we-do/uk-space-command/

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-space-commander-speech-on-defence-in-the-space-domain

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-space-agency-corporate-plan-2025-26/uk-space-agency-corporate-plan-2025-26

Germany

The German Space Defence Centre (Weltraumkommando) was founded in Uedem in 2021 and utilizes the capabilities of the Air Force and cyber and information domain experts. According to the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces are responding to the growing importance of space for the country’s operational capabilities, the well-being of the population and the military’s growing dependence on space-based information, services, and products.

The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) focuses on Earth observation, satellite operations, and the development of new launch systems and technologies. DLR’s German Space Operations Center (Deutsches Raumfahrtkontrollzentrum) operates satellites and supports manned space flights. Germany is also developing small satellites and new launch systems, supported by both its strong industrial sector and its growing community of “new space” startups. Germany is ESA’s second-largest donor.

https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/luftwaffe/aktuelles/das-weltraumkommando-in-uedem-5181718

https://www.dlr.de/de

Italy

The Italian Space Operations Command (Comando delle Operazioni Spaziali, COS) was founded in 2020 and is the joint space command of the armed forces. Its mission is to strengthen and defend national space capabilities and to effectively integrate the military’s space-based services into its operations. COS operates military satellites such as Sicral 1B, Sicral 2, Athena-Fidus, OPTSAT-3000 and COSMO-SkyMed.

The Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale, Italiana, ASI) was established in 1988 as a national authority responsible for shaping and carrying out Italy’s space policy. The agency has established itself as one of the world’s leading players in space science, satellite technology, and the development of spacecraft for exploration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Operations_Command_(Italy)

https://www.asi.it/en/

Canada

The 3rd Canadian Space Division (3 CSD) of the Canadian armed forces is responsible for providing space capabilities to support operations. 3 CSD is a unit under the Commander of the Canadian Air Force and is responsible for space situational awareness, and space-based support for military operations both at home and abroad. 3 CSD will defend and protect military space capabilities in cooperation with its allies and partners. It reached full operational capability in 2022. The 3 CSD Headquarters includes the Advanced Space Effects Flight (ASE), which is responsible for cooperation with national and international space allies and partners. 7 Wing (Space) operates under the 3 CSD commander.

The Canadian Space Agency, founded in 1990, has a mission is to promote the peaceful use and development of space, advance scientific knowledge through science, and ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canada.

https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/corporate/3-canadian-space-division.html

https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/

India

India has more than 50 years of experience in space activities – mainly non-military activities. Only in recent years have the armed forces been developed to become active users of space capabilities and to create military space capabilities.

Founded in 2019, the Defence Space Agency (DSA) is a joint agency of the Indian Armed Forces located in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Its mission is to protect India’s interests in outer space, develop space warfare strategies, and coordinate military space activities in cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). India demonstrated its ASAT capabilities in 2019 by destroying one of its own satellites. In July 2019, India conducted its first simulated space warfare exercise, called IndSpaceEx. The goal was to assess space threats and create a common doctrine of space warfare.

In 2006, the ISRO drew up its first proposal to send a human into space, thus precipitating the development of the necessary infrastructure and spacecraft. To date, the ISRO has developed most of the necessary technologies, such as a crew module and rescue system, and space victualling and life support systems. There are several centres or units under the ISRO, including the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Monitoring Centre.

ISRO’s Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) supports international cooperation and technical information exchange with foreign space agencies and industry. ISRO has ITLU units in Moscow, Washington, D.C., and Paris.

In July 2023, ISRO sent the Chandrayaan-3, a spacecraft carrying a landing probe and a rover, from the Sriharikota Space Centre to the Moon. The object of study is the south pole of the Moon.

https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/india-military-conducts-anti-satellite-weapon-test

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISRO

Iran

The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) is the state space agency of Iran. Iran has an initial space programme that includes building and launching small-sized satellites, but the capability is limited. The first Iranian satellite was successfully launched in 2009. Iran has made known its ability to interfere with commercial satellite signals.

Iran’s space program plans to launch four satellites by mid-March 2026 and to open a new spaceport in Chabahar. The program includes both civilian and military components and focuses on developing space infrastructure, advancing launch vehicles, and researching satellite technology and manned spaceflight. The goal of the program is to send an Iranian astronaut into space by 2029.

Iran participates in the Chinese-led Chang’e-8 probe’s lunar program and is working closely with Russia, which has carried out several of Iran’s satellite launches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Space_Agency

Japan

Japan became the fourth country to launch a satellite (Ohsumi) in 1970 and has a long history of developing space technology with roots dating back to the mid-1950s. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was established in 2003 and focuses on research, satellite technology and manned spaceflight. Key activities include the development of technology for the Artemis lunar missions, in which Japan plans to participate with a pressurized ATV and possibly by sending astronauts.

In 2008, Japan revised its constitution to allow for national security-related space activities, and recently, there has been discussion about the development of space capabilities or military space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities. The plan is to reorganize the Japan Air Self-Defence Force into the Japan Air and Space Self-Defence Force in 2027. The change is justified by the threat of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles.

https://global.jaxa.jp/

Polyakov, Max: Japan’s Space Program, Part 3: Famous Missions and a Vision for the Future. Max Polyakov Space 2025:
https://maxpolyakov.com/japan-s-space-program-part-3-famous-missions-and-a-vision-for-the-future/

North Korea

North Korea’s space agency, the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), was reorganized in September 2023 and became the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA).

North Korea announced that it had launched the first satellite in August 1998. However, the launch was widely assessed as unsuccessful. The next launch, in April 2009, was also considered a failure. The launches in 2012 and 2016 were officially declared successful by North Korea, but it remains unclear whether the satellites have operational functionality.

In the 2020s, the country began developing reconnaissance satellites. There was one apparently successful launch in 2023 as part of this effort. North Korea has also announced ambitious lunar and Mars programs.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are increasing their cooperation in the space sector. Particularly, Russia’s support could allow North Korea to launch larger space-launch vehicles (SLVs) and deploy more advanced satellites with high-resolution sensors, providing North Korea with greater strategic leverage in the coming years.

Yamamoto, Takaaki: The History and Evolution of North Korea’s Space Capabilities. CSIS 2025:
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2025-08/250819_Yamamoto_DPRK_Space.pdf?VersionId=hyjBSfWepllGKDehnblBwNtuaUcVmXut