United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Berkeley model united nations Welcome Letter Hello delegates! My name is Kevin Tuok, and it is my honor to be serving as your UNOOSA Head Chair for the sixty-eighth session of BMUN. I am a sophomore studying Molecular and Cellular Biology and Business here at UC Berkeley. I was born in Florida, but grew up in King of Prussia, PA, near Philadelphia. I participated in Model UN throughout high school, so I know how challenging and stressful, but also how rewarding and fun MUN can be. Outside of MUN, I work at the Berkeley Food Institute, love watching new TV shows, hiking, and trying new foodie spots in the Bay. I chose these topics because of how relevant I believe they will be in the very, very near future. As we look towards this fnal frontier, we must ensure some sort of legal foundation exists to anchor our journey, lest we have a chaotic, and perhaps violent, mad dash for the stars. As the pinnacle of in- ternational cooperation and peace, the United Nations stands in a prime position to lead such efforts. 2018 signifed the fftieth anniversary of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Formed in response to the Space Race during the Cold War, its mandate was to prevent the militariza- tion of space. My wish is that our committee will be able to uphold this tradition, and produce realistic and agreeable treaties to ensure the continued peaceful use of space, for the shared beneft of all. I hope these topics will encourage you to think more proactively about the state of our world — to deal with issues before they arise. I am ecstatic to have this opportunity to lead BMUN’s frst rendition of UNOOSA, and we can’t wait to read your papers on these incredibly captivating topics. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions, good jokes, or sci-f recommendations, and see you at Cal in March! Annalise Fox is so thrilled to be one of your vice chairs for BMUN 68! She currently serves as BMUN’s USG of Special Events, in which she manages the club’s philanthropy. She is majoring in Glob- al Studies and triple minoring in child development, education, and public policy. Other than BMUN she teaches lessons in a Head Start preschool through Americorps, is a Research Assistant at Zhou Family and Culture Lab’s Dual Language Learner’s project, and works as a Teacher’s Assistant at Berke- ley’s Early Childhood Education Center. Outside of school, she enjoys birdwatching, hiking, watching movies, and drinking coffee. She is super stoked for this committee because she is a die hard Star Wars and Star Trek fan and feels these topics reanimate them in a realistic lens. Sabina Nong is a senior majoring in political science and minoring in political economy. This berkeley model united nations 1 year marks her seventh year in MUN and her fourth year in BMUN. Other than BMUN, Sabina spent most of her time in different research projects and extracurricular activities centered around human rights issues. She works as a team manager at Human Rights Investigation Lab in Berkeley Law School, leading research projects on online open-source data investigation. She works with the Chinese Initia- tive on International Law, an NGO in China, to organize seminars on LGBTQ-related legal issues and to conduct research on business’s impact in promoting diverse working environment. Besides academic passions, she is also interested in hiking, reading and shopping in vinyl and vintage shops. She is more than excited to serve as one of the vice chairs for UNOOSA at the sixty-eighth session of BMUN! She hopes that she can provide her perspectives from the disciplines of political science and political econ- omy and learn a lot more from the contributions of all the intelligent and diligent delegates. Jalen Gelb is a freshman at Berkeley, studying Political Science. Jalen was born and raised in West Los Angeles and participated in Model United Nations all four years of high school, and even attended BMUN in his sophomore year. He will be a vice-chair for UNOOSA this year. When Jalen is not being a decorous delegate, he is probably in his room listening to music, going to some concert, or eating out with his many friends. See you in March! Kevin Tuok Head Chair, United Nations Offce for Outer Space AffairsS berkeley model united nations 2 TOPIC A - Preventing Space Militarization TOPIC BACKGROUND More than 2,000 active satellites are in orbit around Earth, providing the foundations necessary for almost every modern service in our lives. We rarely think about it, but components of our national security, economic vitality, and quality of life, all heavily depend on a metal box foating thousands of miles into the sky. Indeed, the extent to which space pervades our daily lives is unfathomable and cannot be overstated. However, the instruments that form these satellites and the orbits they occupy are extremely fragile and delicate. Thus, they present easy and strategic targets for militaries, many of whom have already begun research and development into anti-satellite weaponry. A focused laser or a piece of metal debris the size of a penny is all that is needed to disable a satellite, and with it, whatever critical services it provided to Earth. As nations seek ways to inconspicuously improve their strategic position, the fnal frontier is at risk of becoming merely another war-fghting domain. The continued productive use of outer space requires commitment to peaceful cooperation on the part of all actors. Over eighty nations currently operate satellites, a number that is rapidly growing. But only a few need to see space as potential domain for aggression for a chain reaction to occur — and many are already on edge. So much so, that current international debates in fact centers on whether an arms race in outer space is already ongoing, and fears that existing frameworks will be insuffcient to regulate such activity are numerous. To that end, an effcacious resolution will not only need to address anti-satellite (ASAT - note that a glossary of key terms can be found at the end of this synopsis) technologies, but all types of offensive technology that could be placed or is already present in space, as well as include instruments for verifcation and enforcement. This is necessary to prevent space from being treated as simply another possible warfghting domain, which may precipi- tate a dangerous arms race. THE CURRENT SITUATION The Soviet Union was the frst nation to launch an artifcial satellite – Sputnik, on October 4th, 1957. In the midst of the Cold War, the achievement heightened fears of possible Soviet technolog- berkeley model united nations 3 ical superiority in the United States, triggering the infamous Space Race. Although technology from the race resulted in a massive leap forward for civilian standards of living, it also saw some of the ear- liest research into space-military technology. Estimating that the Soviet Union would soon be able to deploy photo-reconnaissance satellites, the CIA promptly commissioned research into systems that could destroy such satellites. The 1957 SAINT (SAtellite INTerceptor) killer satellite project, the ASM- 135 ASAT missile, and the Boeing X-20, a spaceplane bomber and satellite destroyer. Not to be left behind, the Soviets responded with the frst test of a DA-ASAT, the Polyot-1, as well as the offensive robotic satellite-killers Almaz and Istrebitel Sputnikov. This back and forth would eventually culminate in Reagen’s infamous “Star Wars” speech, which called for the development of lasers, particle beam weapons, and space-based missiles (Zak). Despite the premature end of the U.S. programs due to costs, the USSR successfully launched the frst, and only, weaponized satellite to ever be put in orbit, armed with a 23mm autocannon (Mowthrope, 2004). In 1983, then Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov publicly declared an end to such tests, but secretly, engineers continued improving their killer satellites, as well as formulating grand plans for orbital space battle stations. In more recent history, the power of modern, informatized space-assisted warfare has already been exhibited. The 1991 Persian Gulf War saw U.S. Coalition forces rapidly dismantle Saddam Hus- sein’s military in a blitzkrieg-esque assault. It is known as “the frst space war” by historians due to heavy use of satellites and other technological assets to support ground operations (Greenemeier). Without GPS, the hundreds of miles of bare, landmark-less desert battlefelds of Kuwait would have made maneuvering nigh impossible. Precision bombing, artillery support, and decisive troop maneu- vers all relied on GPS guidance. This is a section of history and science that is rarely discussed. We are drawn to grand depic- tions of militarized space in popular science fction, à la Star Wars and The Expanse, and are glad we don’t have to experience such catastrophic violence, but it is already starting to happen. Since the Cold War, space military tech has only become more destructive and frightening. There are now hundreds of military-oriented satellites, for purposes such as reconnaissance, communications, and target acquisition. Four nations have successfully tested direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, and countless nations possess formidable jamming and cyberwarfare capabilities. berkeley model united nations 4 The following section will highlight current capabilities of major players. Infographic detailing current military equipment in space. Cameron Tulk, Canadian International Council. berkeley model united nations 5 Russia “Only with support from space will it be possible for the Armed Forces to reach maximum effectiveness.