States and private actors are engaged in a real struggle for influence in space, using space stations and mega-constellations of satellites.

The stake is not only political and technological, but also commercial, at the time of all connected. 

DECRYPTION

The highly publicized departure of French astronaut Thomas Pesquet for the International Space Station (ISS), of which he is to take command for a period of six months, hides a real trade war that is brewing in space.

It will take place between 400 and 1,300 kilometers above our heads - this is called "low orbit" - where the ISS is located, one of the challenges of the coming conflict.

The main patrons of the station, the United States and Russia, are tearing each other apart over its future, while several private players plan to send an armada of satellites to the area.

Sovereignty struggle 

The ISS is no longer very young.

After 23 years in orbit, it requires constant maintenance, which costs between 4 and 5 billion dollars each year.

Russia would like to withdraw from the project to reinvest its contribution in the construction of another station.

What the United States refuses, not that they are particularly attached to this somewhat outdated machine, but because they absolutely want to prevent China from settling in majesty in this orbit with its own space station, which could enter in service within two years.

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A technological war between private actors

In addition to states, low orbit is also the battleground for great global fortunes. Space X boss Elon Musk wants to install 42,000 mini-satellites - just that! - in that part of space. For his part, Jeff Bezos, the boss of Amazon, wants to launch 3,000. These are gigantic programs if we compare them to the number of satellites currently in service, barely 6,000 today, half of which are out of service. 

Why so many machines above our heads?

The challenge is to prepare the future world of connected objects;

In the near future, many relays will be needed to connect more and more customers to the Internet, to pilot autonomous cars or to deliver customers by drone.

And to ensure technological domination, everyone wants their mega-constellation of satellites, the Gafa of course, but also the Chinese.

A Space Far West

You might think that space is large enough to accommodate everyone, but Earth's immediate environment could quickly be overrun with tens of thousands of space debris when these different satellites die.

Low orbit is not as big as you might think, and in recent years it has taken on the allure of the Wild West, with no real rule other than first-come-first-served.

We already know that the States will have to regulate this gold rush of modern times, it is in any case one of the most fascinating battles of the century which is being prepared.