But observing objects in cislunar space from Earth is not easy. First, the Moon is a quarter of a million miles away, so spacecraft or debris will appear very faint to near-Earth sensors. The Moon and the Sun far outshine these objects. Second, using a satellite stationed near the Moon to obtain a position and vector for an object requires precise navigation, a capability that is not readily available without reliable GPS signals.
If anyone knows exactly where a satellite is located around the Moon today, it is thanks to the generosity of its operator. If they wish, spacecraft owners can provide detailed ephemeris data, revealing their location and movement, but there is no way to force any operator to publish this information. Some operators may not want to share their location to gain a competitive or strategic advantage.
There is also the risk that a satellite in lunar orbit will break up and create a space debris field. There is currently no way to track such small fragments to lunar distances, increasing the risk of damaging or destructive collisions. If a lunar satellite disintegrated, it could “compromise international scientific missions and destabilize emerging lunar economic activity,” according to a report. Miter Corporation 2025 Reporta nonprofit organization that operates several federally funded research centers.
Some generals bring the topic of lunar military operations to Earth. In 2024, Ars asked Space Force Major General Anthony Mastalirthen general of a star, on the military vision of the Moon. It identified a potential adversary’s use of the Moon or orbits around it as a launching point for a targeted attack on U.S. assets closer to Earth.
“We’re not fighting over mineral deposits on an asteroid somewhere. We’re not, right now, guiding convoys to Mars,” Mastalir said. “These are terrestrial conflicts that we hope to be able to stop. We also do not want them, although it is increasingly likely that they can, to extend into space or even start in space.
“Someday in the future, that may change, but for now, I would be more concerned about what these new orbits present, what that means for potential attack vectors to our traditional operational (areas).”
