But observing objects in lunar space from Earth is not easy. First, the Moon is a quarter million miles away, so spacecraft or debris will appear elusive to sensors near Earth. The Moon and the Sun shine much brighter than these objects. Second, obtaining a fix and vector to an object requires precise navigation using a satellite deployed near the Moon, a capability not readily available without a reliable GPS signal.
If anyone today knows exactly where a satellite is around the Moon, it is thanks to the generosity of its operator. If they wish, spacecraft owners can provide detailed ephemeris data, revealing their location and activity, but there is no way to force any operator to publish this information. Some operators may not want to share their space for competitive or strategic advantage.
There is also a risk of a satellite breaking up in lunar orbit, which could create a field of space debris. There is currently no way to track such small fragments at lunar distances, increasing the risk of damaging or catastrophic collisions. If a lunar satellite disintegrates, it “could compromise international science missions and destabilize emerging lunar economic activity,” according to a 2025 report from the Meteor Corporation, a nonprofit organization that manages several federally funded research centers.
Some generals bring the topic of lunar military operations back to Earth. In 2024, Arce asked Space Force Maj. Gen. Anthony Mastilir, then a one-star general, about the military’s view of the Moon. They identified a potential adversary’s use of orbiters around the Moon or its surroundings as launch points for attacks on US assets close to Earth.
“We’re not fighting over mineral deposits on an asteroid. We’re not sending convoys to Mars right now,” Mastalir said. “These are terrestrial conflicts that we hope we can prevent. We also don’t want them, although it seems more and more likely that they could spill over into space or even start in space.
“Some day in the future, this may change, but for now, I would be more concerned about what these new classes present than what they do to potential attack vectors for our conventional operations.” [areas]”
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