Optional space services are a comfortable idea.
They suggest flexibility. Redundancy. Choice.
But in practice, many space-based systems are no longer optional.
They have become baseline requirements.
This reflects the logic of structural dependency on space systems.
From Enhancement to Infrastructure
Satellite services were once seen as add-ons:
- GNSS to complement analog maps
- EO to enhance meteorology
- Space comms to back up ground networks
But over time, industries and institutions began to reorganize around them.
What began as optional became essential to scale.
The Disappearance of Alternatives
Yes, alternatives exist,
on paper.
But:
- Paper maps don’t power global logistics
- Weather models without EO are outdated
- Terrestrial networks can’t reach remote or crisis zones
These fallback options no longer function at the level that modern systems demand.
Optionality disappears quietly.
Dependency remains.
This is further explored in From Capability to Dependency.
Why Optional Space Services Are a Strategic Illusion
In policy debates, space systems are still framed as “nice to have”.
Something to diversify. Something to exit, if needed.
But real-world systems tell a different story:
- Critical infrastructure relies on satellite timing
- Emergency services count on EO overlays
- Financial markets assume GNSS continuity
Exit is no longer feasible without major disruption.
This is what makes satellite dependency feel abstract, but real.
No Redundancy, No Resilience
True optionality requires:
- viable alternatives
- tested backups
- real switching capability
Most space-reliant systems lack all three.
And that’s why optional space services are a myth.
They are not support systems.
They are foundations.