There is an ongoing debate on the issue of weaponizing space in order to protect our national space assets and achieve strategic objectives.This is an issue because of the increase of more space faring nations trying to exploit the benefits of space and other national also trying to develop capabilities to disrupt other using from it.This essay will outline the current international laws and policies,our national policies in regard to space,current issues that catalyzed this debate,the benefits and disadvantage of weaponizing space.
Space is also governed by rules and laws much like we do on land and sea."Treaty on Principles Governming the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space,including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies," or commonly referred to as the Outer Space Treaty was signed in 1966 by many nations,including the United States, and is the basis for most international space laws and policies.Some key points to take away from this treaty in relation to the space weapons debater are the following:"(1)outer space is open to all nations to explore and use;(2)nations cannot own any portion of outer space;(3)outer space will be used for peaceful purposes;(4)nations cannot place,put in orbit,or station any weapon of mass destruction in any form in outer space."(UNOOSA)These principles and laws also mostly reflected in our nation's space policy, and our national security space strategy.
Our National Space Policy(NSP) is derived from the President's vision and directives.NSP incorporates the trems outlined in the Outer Space Treaty,as well as two caveats: (1)to deter,defend our nation's space assets, and "if deterrence fails,defeat efforts to attack them";(2)"to work with international partners to continue to promote peaceful use of space."Also ,NSP shapes the National Security Space Strategy(NSSS),which the Department of Defense uses of direct the way the military develop and utilize space capabilities.
NSSS states a few current trends in space as being "congested and contested",which is shaping our space strategic environment as well as fueling debates for space weapons."Congested" trend refers to the current "60 nations and government consortia that own and operate satellites and the expectation to have 9000 satellite communication transponders in orbit by 2015."There are over "22000 man-made objects,of which,1100 are active satellites," and the rest are orbital debris from 50+ years of space exploitation."Contested" trend refers to how certain nations, including us,are aiming to develop counter space capabilities that may "deny,degrade,deceive,disrupt,or destroy space assets or its supporting infrastructure.For example,in January 2007,China tested their anti-satellite capability by launching a ballistic missile as a "kinetic kill vehicle" and destroying one of their weather satellite.This test added more than 3000 pieces of orbital debris and proved a grim fact that other nations are developing counter space capabilities.
Weaponizing space has always been an ongoing debate since the start of the space race.International space policies and laws have and continue to allow all nations to use and explore space freely and peacefully.Even our own national policies adhere to these international laws to promote peacefully use of space as long as we maintain our national objectives.However,the current political and military environment brings about arguments which support for or against the idea of space weaponization.WE need to conduct a thorough critical analysis of all sides of this debate and choose the best balanced approach.
