DOCSLIB.ORG

Integrating National Interests in Space

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Integrating National Interests in Space Symposium On Space Policy, Regulations, and Economics – IAF 2012 October 1-5 E3.2 – International Cooperation: Goals, Constraints, and Means IAC-12.E3.2.7 Integrating National Interests in Space Dr. Scott Pace, Space Policy Institute George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA [email protected] 63rd International Astronautical Congress Naples, Italy October 1-5, 2012 In seeking to advance international security interests in space, the context for civil and commercial space activities must be considered along with the context for military and intelligence ones. The international political environment and rationales for space activities are shaped both “hard” and “soft” power realities. A broad international approach to space exploration can play an important strategic role in securing a more stable, peaceful environment for all space activities. Organizing such an approach will not be easy – not the least because of recent US space policy statements and programmatic decisions affecting lunar and Mars exploration efforts. US national interests and those of its friends and allies would benefit from a more effective integration of national security and civil space interests. In particular, this will require amending recent US policy mistakes and addressing shortfalls in important national space capabilities. Looking forward, a program of peaceful, multilateral exploration of the Moon would be a symbolic and practical means of creating a framework for peaceful space cooperation in concert with dual-use discussions of an international space code of conduct and other transparency and confidence building measures. 1.0 NATIONAL INTERESTS IN SPACE Recent years have seen the emergence of new threats to US space activities, threats that are The United States is facing new challenges and different from those of the Cold War and which new opportunities in integrating its civil, have their own distinct dynamics. Threats to the commercial, and national security space interests sustainability of space activities today come not in the context of a dynamic global environment. from a single superpower but from a much more Space activities today play critical roles in US diverse group of actors whose motivations can national security, economic growth, and range from deliberate to ambiguous and even scientific achievements. The Global Positioning accidental. In some cases, threats arise from a System (GPS) is an integral part of several known nation state while in others, it is critical infrastructures and enables functions impossible to attribute responsibility due to a ranging from survey and construction, to lack of sufficient “space situational awareness” farming, finance, and air traffic management – to support national intelligence needs. not to mention supporting US military forces worldwide. The International Space Station In 2007, without prior notification, China tested represents a unique collaborative partnership a high altitude anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) between the United States, Europe, Canada, against one of its old weather satellites. This test Japan, and Russia. There is increasing concern created tens of thousands of pieces of orbital in the United States and among other spacefaring debris and increased the risk of collision and nations with the long-term sustainability of the damage to many satellites operating in low Earth space environment in the face of increasing orbit (LEO), including the International Space amounts of orbital debris. International space Station, for many years. In 2009, there was an cooperation, space commerce, and international accidental collision over the Arctic between a space security discussions could be used to defunct Russian Kosmos communications reinforce each other in ways that would advance satellite and an active Iridium communications US interests in the sustainability and security of satellite that added even more orbital debris to all space activities. At present, however, these low Earth orbit. North Korea, faced with activities are largely conducted on their multiple UN sanctions, has continued developing individual merits and not as part of integrated ballistic missile capabilities under the guise of national strategy. peaceful space launches. Iran continues to jam IAC-12.E3.2.7 1 Symposium On Space Policy, Regulations, and Economics – IAF 2012 October 1-5 commercial satellite broadcasts in order to space systems is an infringement of a nation’s prevent foreign reports of domestic unrest from rights. The policy states that the United States reaching its population. There have been reports “recognizes the need for stability in the space of attempts at unauthorized access to US civil environment” and that it will pursue “bilateral scientific satellites, e.g., Terra and Landsat in and multilateral transparency and confidence 2007 and 2008, but the source of these attempts building measures to encourage responsible has not been confirmed. actions in space.” The global space community is a growing one The policy also made some important changes with new capabilities and new entrants each compared to the 2006 National Space Policy of year. Europe is building its own version of GPS, the previous Bush Administration, notably with titled “Galileo,” and has long been a leading respect to arms control. Unlike the 2006 policy, supplier of international commercial launch the 2010 policy does not categorically reject services with its Ariane family of launch space-related arms control that would constrain vehicles. China has flown several astronauts, US space activities but states that any such becoming only the third country to demonstrate agreements would have to be “equitable, independent human access to space. China is effectively verifiable, and enhance the national also constructing a space laboratory and has security of the United States and its allies.” This demonstrated complex rendezvous and docking is a traditional US policy formulation that was operations in preparation for a fully manned also used during the Reagan Administration. space station in 2020 – about the time the There is nothing in the policy, however, about International Space Station may be ending its actively pursuing new international treaties, operations. Japan has updated its domestic space creating legal norms, or characterizing space as a legislation to enable pursuit of national security “global commons” or being part of the “common and dual-use space projects in addition to heritage of all mankind” – ambiguous terms that traditional civil scientific efforts. India has are advocated in some segments of the aspirations for its own human spaceflight international space law and policy communities.ii missions and future lunar landings. The general coherence on the national security Space commerce is growing at many levels and foreign policy side of the 2010 National outside of North America, Europe and Russia. Space Policy is not matched in the section of the Japan has announced plans to sell radar satellites policy dealing with civil space exploration. The to Vietnam, while South Korea is seeking to sell policy says that the NASA Administrator shall an optical imaging satellite to the United Arab “set far-reaching exploration milestones. By Emirates. Brazil and China are continuing many 2025, begin crewed missions beyond the moon, years of space cooperation in remote sensing including sending humans to an asteroid.” while India and South Africa are close to Unlike the carefully crafted text elsewhere in the concluding their own space cooperation policy, this section appears to have been taken agreement. All of these countries recognize that directly from an April 15, 2010, speech by space capabilities are important for both practical President Obama at the Kennedy Space Center in and symbolic reasons and that these capabilities Florida.iii Subsequent technical work has shown are intrinsically “dual-use” in that civil, security, that there are few scientifically attractive, and commercial applications are based on similar technically feasible asteroids that can be reached skills and technologies. on this schedule.iv 1.1 US National Space Policy and the National Even worse, the international space community, Security Space Strategy which had been shifting attention to the Moon in anticipation of that being the next US focus of The current US National Space Policy, a exploration beyond low Earth orbit, felt comprehensive document that addresses the full blindsided by President Obama’s speech and the range of US interests in space, was released in new US emphasis on a human mission to an June 2010.i The policy continues many long- asteroid. Countries in Asia, such as Japan, India, standing principles, such as the right of all China and South Korea, saw the Moon as a nations to engage in the peaceful uses of outer challenging but feasible destination for robotic space, recognition of the inherent right of self- exploration and a practical focus for human defense, and that purposeful interference with space exploration. The asteroid mission was, IAC-12.E3.2.7 2 Symposium On Space Policy, Regulations, and Economics – IAF 2012 October 1-5 perhaps unintentionally on the part of the United • “We seek to address the contested States, taken as a sign that the United States environment with a multilayered would focus on partnerships with the most deterrence approach. We will support capable countries, such as Russia, for human establishing international norms and space exploration and not engage in broad transparency
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Anti Satellite Weapons: a Likely Future Trajectory
    Occasional Paper – May 2016 Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely Future Trajectory Lt Gen (Dr) Vijay Kumar Saxena (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, VSM Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely Future Trajectory 2 of 17 About the Author Lt Gen (Dr) Vijay Kumar Saxena (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, VSM Lt Gen Saxena is a former Director General of the Corps Army Air Defence. The officer, as a Scholar Warrior, is a distinguished member of the country’s strategic community, and is a prolific writer on military subjects. He has authored 5 Books, two on Air Defence, two on United Nations and one on Combat Leadership. The General is regularly published in a host of Professional Magazines and Journals, month-on-month. He has to his credit, some 85 Articles on a wide spectrum of subjects and counting. Besides the kernel of Air Defence as his core competency, the General has developed alternative writing verticals on Space subjects, the Unmanned and a special expertise in the Defence Procurement Procedures. Off late the General has also started appearing on TV shows carrying programmes related to his domain of expertise. Gen Saxena, holds a Doctorate with his thesis on the ‘Future of the United Nations in the 21st Century’. Besides this, he is a NLSIU scholar with qualifications in Human Rights and Child Rights Law. Immediately post his colour Service in Jun 15, the General is RE- ATTIRED and is serving the cause of Services as an Advisor Army to a leading DPSU of the country http://www.vifindia.org © Vivekananda International Foundation Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely Future Trajectory 3 of 17 Anti Satellite Weapons: A Likely Future Trajectory Anti Satellite Weapons (ASAT) weapons, as the name goes, are the space weapons that are capable of destroying space assets of the opponent for the purpose as may be intended by the attacker.
    [Show full text]
  • HUFPI Space Policy
    Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative (HUFPI) US National Security Space: Maintaining US Leadership in Space with Strategic Collaboration Strategies and Implications Rohan Jakhete, Chair Qijia Zhou Syed Umar Ahmed Shane Rockett Simeon Sayer Ryan Santos George Whitford Report Spring 2021 About the Authors Rohan Jakhete ([email protected]) is an undergraduate at Harvard College pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in political science. He is the policy chair for this project, the deputy director for the policy of businesses for HUFPI, the co-president of the Harvard Undergraduate Clean Energy Group, and is part of the club swim team. He has experience in national security strategy, private equity, clean energy, electro-mechanical design, and ventures. Qijia Zhou ([email protected]) is an undergraduate at Harvard College with an intended concentration in Physics and Astrophysics with a secondary in Government. She intends to pursue a career at the intersection of science and policy. She is the Vice President of the Harvard Undergraduate Ethics Bowl and a staff writer at the Harvard International Review. She is also a member of the Harvard Swimming Club and the Harvard Band. She has experience in mechanics, public speaking, science communication, and continues to pursue her interest in astrophysics research. Her focus in this paper was on US x India. Ryan Santos ([email protected]) is an undergraduate at Harvard College concentrating in History with a secondary in Economics. He has done research at Stanford University’s Empirical Studies of Conflict Program and has worked for the Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations unit at the Asian Development Bank.
    [Show full text]
  • Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid
    Georgetown University Law Center Scholarship @ GEORGETOWN LAW 2019 Exoatmospheric Plowshares: Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid David A. Koplow Georgetown University Law Center, [email protected] This paper can be downloaded free of charge from: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2197 https://ssrn.com/abstract=3229382 UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, Spring 2019, Issue 1, 76. This open-access article is brought to you by the Georgetown Law Library. Posted with permission of the author. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub Part of the Air and Space Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, and the National Security Law Commons EXOATMOSPHERIC PLOWSHARES: USING A NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOR PLANETARY DEFENSE AGAINST AN INCOMING ASTEROID DavidA. Koplow* "They shall bear their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" Isaiah 2:4 ABSTRACT What should be done if we suddenly discover a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth? The consequences of an impact could be enormous-scientists believe thatsuch a strike 60 million years ago led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and something ofsimilar magnitude could happen again. Although no such extraterrestrialthreat now looms on the horizon, astronomers concede that they cannot detect all the potentially hazardous * Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable comments from the following experts, colleagues and friends who reviewed prior drafts of this manuscript: Hope M. Babcock, Michael R. Cannon, Pierce Corden, Thomas Graham, Jr., Henry R. Hertzfeld, Edward M.
    [Show full text]
  • Outer Space in Russia's Security Strategy
    Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy Nicole J. Jackson Simons Papers in Security and Development No. 64/2018 | August 2018 Simons Papers in Security and Development No. 64/2018 2 The Simons Papers in Security and Development are edited and published at the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University. The papers serve to disseminate research work in progress by the School’s faculty and associated and visiting scholars. Our aim is to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the series should not limit subsequent publication in any other venue. All papers can be downloaded free of charge from our website, www.sfu.ca/internationalstudies. The series is supported by the Simons Foundation. Series editor: Jeffrey T. Checkel Managing editor: Martha Snodgrass Jackson, Nicole J., Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy, Simons Papers in Security and Development, No. 64/2018, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, August 2018. ISSN 1922-5725 Copyright remains with the author. Reproduction for other purposes than personal research, whether in hard copy or electronically, requires the consent of the author(s). If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author(s), the title, the working paper number and year, and the publisher. Copyright for this issue: Nicole J. Jackson, nicole_jackson(at)sfu.ca. School for International Studies Simon Fraser University Suite 7200 - 515 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 5K3 Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy 3 Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy Simons Papers in Security and Development No.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of Space Power Upon History (1944-1998)*
    * The Influence of Space Power upon History (1944-1998) by Captain John Shaw, USAF * My interest in this subject grew during my experiences as an Air Force Intern 1997-98, working in both the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Space, and in SAF/AQ, Space and Nuclear Deterrence Directorate. I owe thanks to Mr. Gil Klinger (acting DUSD(Space)) and BGen James Beale (SAF/AQS) for their advice and guidance during my internships. Thanks also to Mr. John Landon, Col Michael Mantz, Col James Warner, Lt Col Robert Fisher, and Lt Col David Spataro. Special thanks to Col Simon P. Worden for his insight on this topic. A primary task of the historian is to interpret events in the course of history through a unique lens, affording the scholar a new, and more intellectually useful, understanding of historical outcomes. This is precisely what Alfred Thayer Mahan achieved when he wrote his tour de force The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1660-1783). He interpreted the ebb and flow of national power in terms of naval power, and his conclusions on the necessity of sea control to guarantee national welfare led many governments of his time to expand their naval capabilities. When Mahan published his work in 1890, naval power had for centuries already been a central determinant of national military power.1 It remained so until joined, even eclipsed, by airpower in this century. Space, by contrast, was still the subject of extreme fiction a mere one hundred years ago, when Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon and H.G.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Weapons Earth Wars
    CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that EDUCATION AND THE ARTS helps improve policy and decisionmaking through ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT research and analysis. HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE This electronic document was made available from INFRASTRUCTURE AND www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND TRANSPORTATION Corporation. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS NATIONAL SECURITY Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 16 POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Support RAND Purchase this document TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY Browse Reports & Bookstore Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore RAND Project AIR FORCE View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. The monograph/report was a product of the RAND Corporation from 1993 to 2003. RAND monograph/reports presented major research findings that addressed the challenges facing the public and private sectors. They included executive summaries, technical documentation, and synthesis pieces. SpaceSpace WeaponsWeapons EarthEarth WarsWars Bob Preston | Dana J. Johnson | Sean J.A. Edwards Michael Miller | Calvin Shipbaugh Project AIR FORCE R Prepared for the United States Air Force Approved for public release; distribution unlimited The research reported here was sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract F49642-01-C-0003.
    [Show full text]
  • A Neorealist Analysis of International Space Politics (1957-2018)
    “War in Space: Why Not?” A Neorealist Analysis of International Space Politics (1957-2018) Eirik Billingsø Elvevold Dissertação em Relações Internacionais Maio, 2019 Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Relações Internacionais, realizada sob a orientação científica da Professora Doutora Ana Santos Pinto e a co-orientação científica do Mestre Rui Henrique Santos. ii To my wife Leyla, For your love, patience and support. iii AKNOWLEDGEMENTS As I came to Portugal to work for the Norwegian Embassy in Lisbon, I had no idea I would stay to study for several years. The decision, however, I will never regret. I would like to thank Universidade Nova and the social sciences faculty, FCSH, for allowing me to study at a leading university for International Relations in Portugal. Our classes, especially with prof. Tiago Moreira de Sa and prof. Carlos Gaspar, will always be remembered. To my coordinator, professor Ana Santos Pinto, I want to express gratitude for her guidance, sharp mind and patience throughout the process. The idea of studying a mix of international politics and space came with me from Norway to Portugal. After seeing Pinto teach in our scientific methods class, I asked her to be my coordinator. Even on a topic like space, where she admitted to having no prior expertise, her advice and thoughts were essential for me both academically and personally during the writing process. In addition, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Rui Henriques Santos for stepping in as my co- coordinator when professor Pinto took on other challenges at the Portuguese Ministry of Defense.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Weapons and the Law
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons Space Weapons and the Law Bill Boothby 93 INT’L L. STUD. 179 (2017) Volume 93 2017 Published by the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law ISSN 2375-2831 Space Weapons and the Law Vol. 93 Space Weapons and the Law Bill Boothby CONTENTS I. Introduction .............................................................................................. 180 II. Definitions ................................................................................................. 182 III. Three Fundamental Principles of Weapons Law ................................. 184 IV. Weapons Law Rules Relating to the Environment ............................. 190 V. Ad Hoc Rules of Weapons Law ............................................................. 192 A. Poisons and Gases ....................................................................... 193 B. Fragmentation Weapons ............................................................. 194 C. Laser Weapons.............................................................................. 194 D. Chemical Weapons ....................................................................... 195 E. Biological Weapons ...................................................................... 197 F. Incendiary Weapons .................................................................... 198 G. Nuclear Weapons ......................................................................... 199 VI. Space
    [Show full text]
  • Space Weapons and the Law
    Space Weapons and the Law Bill Boothby 93 INT’L L. STUD. 179 (2017) Volume 93 2017 Published by the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law ISSN 2375-2831 Space Weapons and the Law Vol. 93 Space Weapons and the Law Bill Boothby CONTENTS I. Introduction .............................................................................................. 180 II. Definitions ................................................................................................. 182 III. Three Fundamental Principles of Weapons Law ................................. 184 IV. Weapons Law Rules Relating to the Environment ............................. 190 V. Ad Hoc Rules of Weapons Law ............................................................. 192 A. Poisons and Gases ....................................................................... 193 B. Fragmentation Weapons ............................................................. 194 C. Laser Weapons.............................................................................. 194 D. Chemical Weapons ....................................................................... 195 E. Biological Weapons ...................................................................... 197 F. Incendiary Weapons .................................................................... 198 G. Nuclear Weapons ......................................................................... 199 VI. Space Law’s Rules Relating to Weapons ............................................... 201 VII. Weapon Reviews of Space Weapons ....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 'It's Going to Happen': Is the World Ready for War in Space?
    ‘It’s going to happen’: is the world ready for war in space? The next theatre of conflict is likely to be in Earth’s orbit – and may have dire consequences for us all Stuart Clark Sun 15 Apr 2018 02.59 EDT hen you hear the phrase “space war”, it is easy to conjure images that could have come from a Star Wars movie: dogfights in space, motherships blasting into warp speed, planet-killing lasers and astronauts with ray guns. And just as easy to then dismiss the whole thing as W nonsense. It’s why last month’s call by President Trump for an American “space force”, which he helpfully explained was similar to the air force but for err… space, was met with a tired eye-roll from most. But there is truth behind his words. While the Star Wars-esque scenario for what a space war would look like is indeed far-fetched, there is one thing all the experts agree on. “It is absolutely inevitable that we will see conflict move into space,” says Michael Schmitt, professor of public international law and a space war expert at University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. Space has been eyed up as a military asset almost since the beginning of the space race. During the cold war, Russia and America imagined many kinds of space weapon. One in particular was called the Rods from Godor the kinetic bombardment weapon. It was a kind of unmanned space bomber that carried tungsten rods to drop on unsuspecting enemies. As they fell from orbit, the rods gathered so much speed that they delivered the explosive power of a nuclear bomb, but without the radioactive fallout.
    [Show full text]
  • China Dream, Space Dream: China's Progress in Space Technologies and Implications for the United States
    China Dream, Space Dream 中国梦，航天梦China’s Progress in Space Technologies and Implications for the United States A report prepared for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Kevin Pollpeter Eric Anderson Jordan Wilson Fan Yang Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Dr. Patrick Besha and Dr. Scott Pace for reviewing a previous draft of this report. They would also like to thank Lynne Bush and Bret Silvis for their master editing skills. Of course, any errors or omissions are the fault of authors. Disclaimer: This research report was prepared at the request of the Commission to support its deliberations. Posting of the report to the Commission's website is intended to promote greater public understanding of the issues addressed by the Commission in its ongoing assessment of U.S.-China economic relations and their implications for U.S. security, as mandated by Public Law 106-398 and Public Law 108-7. However, it does not necessarily imply an endorsement by the Commission or any individual Commissioner of the views or conclusions expressed in this commissioned research report. CONTENTS Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... iii Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Us Anti-Satellite Weapons '
    CASE STUDY 1 THE HISTORY OF US ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPONS ':.: THE HISTORY OF US ANTISATELLITE WEAPON SYSTEMS ---------------------------------------------- Contents I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. THE HISTORY OF US AND SOVIET ASAT PROGRAMS AND OF DIPLOMATIC INTERACTIONS 4 1) The General Context, The Genesis of Ideas and the Derivation of US Programs 4 2) Orbital Nuclear Weapons, The USSR Threat, US Concept Studies and Early Negotiations (1962-1963) 9 3) US Antisatellite Programs 13 4) The USSR Antisatellite Program, 1968 to the Present 27 5) US-USSR Negotiations for ASAT Control (1977-1979) 35 III. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 42 IV. REFERENCES AND NOTES 53 V• TABLES AND FIGURES 66 VI • APPENDICES 1 ) US Satellite Monitoring and Tracking Systems 81 2) The X-20, DYNA-SOAR 88 3) Other Lifting Body Reentry Vehicles 96 4) The Space Shuttle 100 5) "Space Denia1" (1958-1963) 104 - 1 - I. INTRODUCTION The military significance of antisatellite (ASAT) systems is in the importance of the capabilities that they threaten. The uses of satellites in support of military programs has burgeoned into an ever increasing number of areas. Reconnaissance satellites provide information on the location and numbers of strategic weapons, the disposition of fleets and strike forces, and the deployment of tactical forces in wartime. Communi­ cations satellites provide enormously enhanced command-and-control capa­ bilities in the disposition of one's forces. Early-warning systems alert one to the launch of the opponent's strategic missiles. Geodetic satellites provide information for the targeting of one's own weapons· and the improve­ ment of their accuracy. Weather satellites aid fleets to hide under cover and aircraft to improve their routes to targets or destinations.
    [Show full text]