France’s Role in the Global Space Efforts

Space, along with cyberspace and international waters is a strategic common space that – at least theoretically – can be used by all states. However, it is not difficult to realise that utilising space requires specific means that only a very small proportion of states possess. Less than half of the states have orbital platforms, and only around 3% of states have autonomy of action in space, meaning the ability to design, manufacture, launch and operate orbital platforms on a regular basis. In strategic terms, just over 1% of states can be considered to be real military space powers with a coherent space component to their defence policy. 1 In this particular sense, these few states enjoy strategic dominance over the others, and are in a special position that has rarely been witnessed in history. One such state, alongside the United States, the Russian Federation, China, the United Kingdom and Japan, is France.