Militarization Of Space
Space law revisited.
Militarization of space. The militarization of space by the usa even when there has been an international agreement to use space for peaceful purposes as mentioned above begs the question why. The militarization of space isn t new and parties on all sides have been pursuing development of both offensive and defensive in space weapons technologies. Between 1959 and 1962 the western powers made a series of proposals to bar the use of outer space for military purposes.
The early exploration of space in the mid 20th century had in part a military motivation as the united states and the soviet union used it as an opportunity to demonstrate ballistic missile technology and other technologies having the potential for military application. The outer space treaty does not ban military activities within space military space forces or the weaponization of space with the exception of the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space. Space after all is a congested and contested domain.
It is mostly a non armament treaty and offers limited and ambiguous regulations to newer space activities such as lunar and asteroid mining. Such visibility of aggressive military actions can serve as a deterrent against aggression by providing targeted nations time to react and verify their concerns in international discussions. Their successive plans for general and complete disarmament included provisions to ban the orbiting and stationing in outer space of weapons of mass destruction.
Militarization of space including earth orbits should not be allowed. Finally orderly regulation of space weaponization can help avoid a costly and potentially dev astating arms race. Space reactor power and propulsion systems are enabling civilian missions in deep space and selected earth orbits when there is no other practical or viable alternative.
The moon and other celestial bodies according to the 1967 un space treaty must be. Without treaties and resolutions to regulate and limit armament in space the international community risks facing extreme consequences. But it does not accept the unbridled militarisation of space.
The militarization of space would inevitably increase the chances of war and also threaten the industries that rely on space to carry out their daily operations. The militarization of outer space outer space is becoming an arena for technological shows of force whether by deployment of spy satellites or testing of weapons. The militarisation of space involves the placement and development of weaponry and military technology in outer space.