From SSA to SDA: Why Space-Based Sensors Are Critical for Space Domain Awareness in an Era of Great-Power Competition (2026 Update)

Introduction: The Space Domain Has Become a Strategic Battlespace Space is no longer merely an enabler of military operations—it has become a contested warfighting domain in its own right. The rapid expansion of satellite constellations, increasing geopolitical rivalry, growing dependence on space-based infrastructure, and the emergence of counterspace weapons are fundamentally transforming how nations perceive…