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EX-0018.02
ST0004Execution
sub-technique

High-Powered Laser

Parent: EX-0018

Description

A high-powered laser can be used to permanently or temporarily damage critical satellite components (i.e. solar arrays or optical centers). If directed toward a satellite’s optical center, the attack is known as blinding or dazzling. Blinding, as the name suggests, causes permanent damage to the optics of a satellite. Dazzling causes temporary loss of sight for the satellite. While there is clear attribution of the location of the laser at the time of the attack, the lasers used in these attacks may be mobile, which can make attribution to a specific actor more difficult because the attacker does not have to be in their own nation, or even continent, to conduct such an attack. Only the satellite operator will know if the attack is successful, meaning the attacker has limited confirmation of success, as an attacked nation may not choose to announce that their satellite has been attacked or left vulnerable for strategic reasons. A high-powered laser attack can also leave the targeted satellite disabled and uncontrollable, which could lead to collateral damage if the satellite begins to drift. A higher-powered laser may permanently damage a satellite by overheating its parts. The parts most susceptible to this are satellite structures, thermal control panels, and solar panels.* *https://aerospace.csis.org/aerospace101/counterspace-weapons-101

Mappings

EU regulation articles

  • eu-space-actArt. 82(1)
    addresses
    moderate
    direct

    High-power laser dazzling/blinding of optical centers is mitigated through optical-baffle design and protection mechanisms — within 82(1)'s physical-resilience scope (Annex VII point 3).

  • eu-space-actArt. 86(3)
    addresses
    moderate
    direct

    Laser attacks affect single satellites at a time — constellation-level redundancy under 86(3) limits mission impact.

  • nis2-implAnnex 13.2.1
    addresses
    high
    derived

    High-powered laser attacks damage optical centers and solar arrays; protection-against-physical-and-environmental-threats obligations cover aperture-cover design, deployable filters and damage-tolerant array architectures.

ENISA controls

  • ENISA-STL-2025-03-sD.35-i01
    mitigates
    moderate

    Manoeuvre to a different position can break a high-powered laser's pointing, the explicit ENISA STL prescription for such attacks.

  • ENISA-STL-2025-03-sD.35-i06
    addresses
    high

    Filters and shutters on remote-sensing satellites are the canonical control protecting optical sensors against high-powered laser blinding/dazzling.

Cross-reference controls

SPARTA countermeasures

Cite as SafeMode Space, EX-0018.02 (SPARTA v3.2).

Built 2026-07-25 from 216 techniques, 334 regulation articles, 125 ENISA controls, 2,610 framework controls, and 90 countermeasures.