The Militarization of Space

Paper Summary:

Just a few decades ago, the question of weapons in space was largely the realm of science fiction writers. However, the dawn of the 21st century has witnessed a permanent presence in space for mankind in the International Space Station. The increasingly internationalized nature of space has caused many observers to call for the United States to assume control to ensure that continued access to this vital and strategic region continues in the future. However, critics of such proposals assert that as the "last peaceful frontier", there is no room for weapons in an otherwise free outer space. This paper provides an overview of the issues, the controlling legislation, and relevant international treaties, followed by an examination of the position of the space militarization advocates and those of its critics. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.

From the Paper:

"Accordingly, the Space Commission cautions that there has been an insufficient amount of attention paid to the threat and, as a result, "the U.S. is an attractive candidate for a 'Space Pearl Harbor'" (Pena 16). The fact of the matter is, though, that the United States relies more on space than any other country and that the American military in particular is becoming increasingly reliant on space-based systems; in addition, these space systems are currently undefended and are potentially vulnerable to attack."

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