The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that systems that countries rely on such as mobile phones, online banking and GPS depend on safe and secure space systems.

But it is concerned that space is becoming increasingly congested and competed over, escalating the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculations between nations.

Just this week astronomers aired concerns that SpaceX’s upcoming constellation of 1,584 satellites in its Starlink cluster will disrupt scientific understanding of the cosmos.

The UK’s draft resolution calls on the UN to implement a discussion on what responsible behaviour in space looks like, with all countries invited to take part.The FCO said there are currently “almost no meaningful constraints” on the deployment of new weapons or technologies that can damage space systems.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The UK is leading the global discussion on what responsible behaviour in space looks like. 

“We believe a new approach is urgently needed to increase trust and confidence between countries operating in space to prevent an arms race or a conflict that could have catastrophic consequences.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “Conflict in space has potentially profound consequences, and all powers should recognise the importance of this not only to their economies, but to global security.

“Preventing malign activity and reducing the risk of accidents is incredibly important for the safety of the UK, and to the successful military operations that rely on systems in space.”

Military and security threats in space can result in “large-scale disruption to the everyday lives of people around the world”, the FCO warned.

It added that many countries use military systems to control battlefield communications and defensive and offensive missile systems and these systems are vulnerable to attack by space- and Earth-based weapons systems interference and malign activity.

While weapons of mass destruction have been banned in space for over fifty years, there are almost no meaningful constraints on the deployment of new weapons or technologies that can damage or destroy space systems, whether from the ground or in space.

UN talks remain stalled as current proposals do nothing to prevent attacks on satellites from the Earth.

The UK’s first space launch could happen within the next five years as the Government hopes to grow the country’s share of the burgeoning space sector.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that systems that countries rely on such as mobile phones, online banking and GPS depend on safe and secure space systems.

But it is concerned that space is becoming increasingly congested and competed over, escalating the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculations between nations.

Just this week astronomers aired concerns that SpaceX’s upcoming constellation of 1,584 satellites in its Starlink cluster will disrupt scientific understanding of the cosmos.

The UK’s draft resolution calls on the UN to implement a discussion on what responsible behaviour in space looks like, with all countries invited to take part.The FCO said there are currently “almost no meaningful constraints” on the deployment of new weapons or technologies that can damage space systems.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The UK is leading the global discussion on what responsible behaviour in space looks like. 

“We believe a new approach is urgently needed to increase trust and confidence between countries operating in space to prevent an arms race or a conflict that could have catastrophic consequences.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “Conflict in space has potentially profound consequences, and all powers should recognise the importance of this not only to their economies, but to global security.

“Preventing malign activity and reducing the risk of accidents is incredibly important for the safety of the UK, and to the successful military operations that rely on systems in space.”

Military and security threats in space can result in “large-scale disruption to the everyday lives of people around the world”, the FCO warned.

It added that many countries use military systems to control battlefield communications and defensive and offensive missile systems and these systems are vulnerable to attack by space- and Earth-based weapons systems interference and malign activity.

While weapons of mass destruction have been banned in space for over fifty years, there are almost no meaningful constraints on the deployment of new weapons or technologies that can damage or destroy space systems, whether from the ground or in space.

UN talks remain stalled as current proposals do nothing to prevent attacks on satellites from the Earth.

The UK’s first space launch could happen within the next five years as the Government hopes to grow the country’s share of the burgeoning space sector.