Anti-Satellite Weapons: Threats, Laws and the Uncertain Future of Space
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Anti-satellite weapons: threats, laws and the uncertain future of space by Brandon L. Hart A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree ofMASTER OF LAWS (LL.M.) Institute of Air and Space Law McGill University Montreal, Quebec July 2007 © Brandon L. Hart, 2007 Libraryand Bibliothèque et 1+1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-38501-2 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-38501-2 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non sur support microforme, papier, électronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protège cette thèse. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. ln compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privée, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont été enlevés de cette thèse. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. ••• Canada Unless otherwise noted, the conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author writing in his personal capacity. They are not intended and should not he thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency of the United States Government. The author has used only puhlicly-availahle information in the researching and presentation of this work. 11 And the stars ofheaven shallfall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. -- Jesus (Mark 13:25) To my wife, Trenna, and our children, Bryce and Raleigh iii Acknowledgements First, 1 must give the most credit and appreciation to the United States Air Force for making my year of study at Mc Gill University possible. 1 give special thanks to Colonel Ronald R. Ratton, a mentor, supervisor and friend who encouraged me to apply for the LL.M. pro gram in Air and Space Law and supported my application for admission into the program. 1 thank my wife, Trenna, and our children, Bryce and Raleigh, for uprooting their lives once again to follow me from assignment to assignment. Moving so frequently can be hard, especially when it is done so often. 1 love and appreciate themall the more for their love, understanding and support. Trenna also merits appreciation for serving as my sounding board and an excellent proof reader. Thanks is due to a few of my fellow officers in the United States Air Force (Major Darren Huskisson, Major Michael Taylor and Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Waldrop) who, being former graduates of the pro gram and CUITent practitioners of space law, generously suggested relevant research materials and twists on CUITent topics. Gratitude is also due to Mr. Michel Bourbonnière, legal counsel for the Canadian Space Agency, for inputs he provided conceming the law of self-defense. Thanks also to Dr. Ivan A. Vlasic, who offered valuable guidance in organizing this thesis. 1 also thank a friend, Robert Hall, who helped with the French translation of the abstracto Finally, 1 wish to express heartfelt appreciation to Professor Ram Jakhu, my thesis supervisor, whose keen insight and patient instruction were invaluable to the preparation ofthis thesis. Professor Jakhu provided me access to stacks ofresearch relating to the military uses of outer space and frequently e-mailed me pertineRt electronic documents. During feedback sessions, he always shared helpful suggestions for avenues of both law and fact to explore. IV Abstract Satellite capabilities greatly enhance both the military and civilian sectors of society. Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons pose a serious risk to aIl satellites. Chapter One of this thesis discusses current satellite capabilities. Chapter Two, details the wide variety of ASA T weapons. Chapter Three turns to the intentions of various States to employ ASATs. Chapter Four analyzes the legal implications ofusing force against satellites-beginning with the laws relating to the use of force in general, inc1uding the right of self-defense, and then progressing through relevant provisions of the laws of armed conflict. It also addresses the debate over the militarization and weaponization of outer space and past efforts at non-proliferation that relate to space activities. Chapter Five addresses the creation of space debris-a side effect of ASAT use. l will conc1ude with a short discussion regarding the potential for a new international agreement restricting the use of ASATs. v Résumé Les possibilités satellites augmentent considérablement les secteurs militaires et civils de la société. Les armes (ASAT) antisatellite posent un risque sérieux à tous les satellites. Le chapitre un de cette thèse discute des possibilités satellites courantes. Chapitre deux, détails la large-variété d'armes d'ASAT. Le chapitre trois explique les intentions de divers états d'utiliser ASATs. Le chapitre quatre analyse les implications légales d'employer la force contre les satellite en commençant par les lois concernant l'utilisation de la force généralement comprenant les droits de l'autodéfense, progressant alors par les dispositions appropriées des lois du conflit armé. Il adresse également la discussion au-dessus de la militarisation et de l'armement de l'espace extra atmosphérique et après les efforts à la non-prolifération qui se relient aux activités de l'espace. Chapitre cinq relate la création de l'effet secondaire de débris d'espace en l'utilisant les ASAT. Je conclurai avec une discussion courte concernant le potentiel pour un nouvel accord international limitant l'utilisation d'ASATs. VI Acronyms and Abbreviations ABM Anti-Ballistic Missile AEHF Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Communications System ALMV Air-Launched Miniature Vehic1e ASAT Anti-Satellite Weapon BMD Ballistic Missile Defense COPUOS United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space DoD U.S. Department of Defense EHF Extremely High Frequency EMP Electromagnetic Pulse ENMOD Environmental Modification Convention EU European Union FY Fiscal Year (running from 1 October of the prior year through 30 September of the listed year) GLONASS Global Navigation Satellite System (Russia's GNSS) GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System GPS Global Positioning System HAND High Altitude Nuc1ear Detonation ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missile JDAM Joint Direct Attack Munition km Kilometers LOAC Laws of Armed Conflict MHV Miniature Homing Vehic1e (another name for ALMV) MIRACL Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser NASA U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration NPOESS National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System PAROS Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space TSAT Transformational Satellite Communications System UHF Ultra High Frequency UN United Nations USAF United States Air Force USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction vii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... IV ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. v RÉsUMÉ •••••••••••••••.•..•............••.••..•..•.•••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••.••.•...••••••••••••......•.••.....••••••••.•.........•..•.....••.•••....•.• VI ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ••.•••.•.••..••••.•••.•••.•••••.•••••.•••••..•••••.•.••••••••••••••••••••••.•.•••••••••..•••••.•• VII TABLE OF CONTENTS .•••••••...•........••...•.•...•...•.•..•••.•.••••••••••.••••.•••••.••••.•••...•...••..••••..•••.••••...•..•.••.•••••.•• VIII INTRODUCTION ••.•••••••••••..•••••••••.••.........••...•.•....•.•........•.•.••........••..••••••••••••••••..........•••.•.•.••••••••••.......•....•. 1 CHAPTER ONE: V ARIOUS USES OF SATELLITES ........................................................................... 5 A. COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES ............................................................................................................ 8 B. RECONNAISSANCE / REMOTE-SENSING SATELLITES ............................................................................ Il C. NAVIGATION SATELLITES .................................................................................................................... 15 D. WEATHER SATELLITES