ipl-logo

An Argument For Deployment Of Space Weapons

868 Words4 Pages

An Argument for the Deployment of US Space Weapons Like air and sea-power before it, space is soon to be the next battlefield for nation-states in the international system. Currently, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 only prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, opening the door for space-faring actors to deploy weapons in space, if they so choose. But what constitutes a space weapon? Moreover, just because the US can, should it use its comparative advantage to weaponize space? To be sure, space weapons are not simply weapons deployed in space. Space weapons can vary from a system designed to interfere with another actor’s communication abilities to ground-to-air anti-satellite missiles. Peter Kamocsai defines space weapons …show more content…

Increasingly, the US relies on satellite communication to conduct military operations which perpetuate its role as a global hegemon. As the US continues to exploit space to maintain its global position, rival actors may attempt to disrupt its capabilities by developing space weapons. Therefore, the only way to safeguard US space assets is to readily employ a range of space weapons that, at a moment’s notice, can deny, disrupt or destroy another actor’s space capabilities. Scholars argue that if the US were to openly deploy space weapons, other actors may wish to do the same leading to a potential arms race. While possible, an arms race of space weaponry does not necessarily impact the security of US assets in space. Realistically, many nation-states either cannot afford to stockpile space weapons or do not possess the technical ability to be able to. Moreover, because of the relative costs and risks associated with space weapons, actors looking to disrupt the US’ capabilities may look to do so …show more content…

Others may think that the deployment of space weapons is unnecessary or a waste of the US’ resources. At this stage, it would be easy to come to that conclusion because no one has yet to threaten or destroy US assets in space. Nevertheless, as technology allows more nation-states to access Earth’s orbit, the risk of other actors targeting US space assets increases. The US should prepare for this inevitability by preparing to responsibly deploy space

Show More
Related

  • Reagan Administration Issues

    648 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Reagan administration believed that the Soviet Union's military strength was the greatest threat to the security of the United States (Fischer, 1997). Reagan refused to believe the Soviets would cut back on certain missiles if the U.S. would refrain from deploying immediate range missiles in Europe. Reagan would increase the number of weapons and revive military programs that had been previously cut. He would also propose to build better weapons that could disable nuclear weapons from space. Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, or Star Wars, violated the 1972 ABM Treaty forbidding defensive systems capable of covering the entire U.S. or Soviet Union.

    Read More

  • General Bernard Schriever: America's Missile Man

    542 Words  | 3 Pages

    General Bernard A. Schriever, dubbed “America’s Missile Man” by Time magazine in 1957, would pave the way for America’s dominance in space and further United States Air Power in the 1960’s with his achievement of building and sustaining an intercontinental ballistic missile force. General Schriever was born September 14th 1910 in Bremen, Germany. In 1917 Schriever, along with his mother and brother, escaped the First World War and emigrated to New York to join Schriever’s father who had worked as an engineering officer on an interned German ship line (93). According to the class text, “in 1923 Schriever became a naturalized United States citizen” (94). In 1931 Schriever began his military career eventually being promoted to Colonel, in the early 1940’s he was made Chief, Scientific Liaison Section, Deputy Chief of Staff, Materiel where he lead the Scientific Advisory Board originally formed by Hap Arnold in 1944.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Weapons Schlosser

    302 Words  | 2 Pages

    Schlosser asserts that Iran shouldn’t be able to possess nuclear weapons due to the pervasive threat it will pose. He acknowledges that nuclear weapons haven’t been used since the World War II, which suggests that a nuclear war will never happen. In addition, Schlosser emphasizes the ubiquity of the belief that nuclear weapons serve as war deterrents between nuclear powers by quoting Kenneth Waltz. Schlosser agrees that the belief does describe recent situations but doesn’t portray the future.

    Read More

  • American Involvement In The Korean War

    1877 Words  | 8 Pages

    As LeMay would later say, the only lesson learned in Korea was, “how not to use a strategic air weapon.” That for the remainder of the Cold War, the US and the Soviet Union engaged in proxy wars all over the world, speaks to the ineffectiveness of nuclear weapons as a conventional deterrent. Land war, it turned out, was not obsolete. Following the conflict in Korea, nuclear deterrence was forced to evolve to a concept solely aimed at preventing a preemptive nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. By changing the role of nuclear weapons, the conflict in Korea was also able to change the calculus regarding soviet expansion and the viability of limited

    Read More

  • David Wallechinsky North Korea Essay

    708 Words  | 3 Pages

    No technology Why? Too undeveloped to harm us. Weak Military Soldiers malnourished Lacks power to attack Defensive not offensive Disabled nuke facilities Disclosed weapon capabilities

    Read More

  • Nuclear Weapons Risk Assessment

    1023 Words  | 5 Pages

    In this regard, countries such as Pakistan that are perceived to have limited security in relation to their stockpiles of nuclear weapons and weapon grade materials pose a significant threat. During the administration of President Pervez Musharraf, there were at least two assassination attempts that were conducted through the collusion of the military and Al Qaeda operatives. This raises the question if the Pakistan administration is unable to secure the security of its president, what about the stockpiles of weapon-grade nuclear material in their possession. Moreover, Iran has been known to finance and support terror organizations, which also raises questions whether it could provide nuclear technology to such groups to hit American targets on its behalf. Additionally, nuclear weapons could be smuggled into the United States from its neighbors such as Canada and Mexico, who seem to have a mediocre security system.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Neal Stephenson's 'Innovation Starvation'

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    After witnessing the decline of new innovations by the world’s space programs since the ‘60s, he

    Read More

  • Radioactive Fallout Analysis

    1022 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to a telgram sent by Soviet Abassador Nikolai Novikov to a Soviet Leadership member, “The foreign policy of the United States, which reflects the imperialist tendencies of American monopolitic capital, is charaterized in the postwar peiod by a striving for world supremecy. This is the real meaning of the many statements by President Truman and other representatives of AMerican ruling circles; that the United States has the right to lead the world. All the forces of american diplomacy--the army, the air force, the naviy, industry and scienc--are enlisted in the service of theis foreign policy. For this purpose broad plans for expansion have been devlelped and are being implemented through diplomacy and the establishemnt of a system of naval and air bases stretching far beyone the boundaries of the United SAtates, through the arms race, and through the creation of ever newer types of wearpons.” This evidence shows that in 1946 the Soviet Union was also engaging in militarism by making new atomic and nuclear bombs, the V2 rocket which was inspired during the Cold War and could reach from one end of the world to the other and blow its target to smithereens.

    Read More

  • Dr Strangelove Nuclear Weapons

    1529 Words  | 7 Pages

    Nuclear weapons and the technology surrounding them have developed tremendously over the past fifty-sixty years. Many questions have risen since the beginning of the creation of nuclear weapons and whether or not nations should be trusted with these weapons. In this paper we are discussing whether or not the United States of America and the Soviet Union should be trusted with nuclear weapons. I think both the Unites States and the Soviet Union should be trusted with weapons of this caliber. There are a couple reasons why I think they both should be trusted.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Space Exploration

    1032 Words  | 5 Pages

    The use of space exploration could be used to better protect ourselves from any attack by having more satellites in space to view the rest of the world and better detect threats. As Britannica states, “If governments decide to expand the activity in space of their armed forces, space could become another major military theatre for waging war and deploying weapons.” The United States can use space for our military benefit to detect missiles and to keep better satellite watch over other countries. The United States space corps would help make strategic decisions based on information that we can gather from satellites. Having funding for this particular section of our military would put us ahead of most countries as many countries have militaries but none actually have military in space.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: Is Space Exploration Worth It?

    681 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is Space Exploration Worth it? Do you want to stay here forever? The question of space exploration has lingered inside everyone’s mind since the Space Race and humans looked to the stars. Humankind exploring our interstellar neighborhood in inevitable and beneficial.

    Read More

  • Cyber War Outline

    873 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cyber-weapons are far more dangerous than nuclear and normal weapons. They are fast and electronic attacks can leave little time for militaries to react. Unfortunately, it is believed that cyber-weapons are being developed in secret and no one can estimate their true power yet. The uncertainty that comes with them is more threatening than any conventional weapon. III.

    Read More

  • Security Police Case Study

    1378 Words  | 6 Pages

    3.6 Security Police USAF security policemen (far left: Amn Marc Joel Berger) from Tan Son Nhut Air Base watch for Viet Conginfiltration attempts along the base perimeter during the Vietnam war. In 1968, the Air Force accepted the Safe Side Program's recommendation to establish 559-man Combat Security Police Squadrons (CSPS) organized into three field flights. Three CSPS were incrementally activated, trained and deployed in 179-day TDY rotations to South Vietnam. On March 15, 1968, the 821st CSPS began a hasty training program at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and was in place at Phan Rang Air Base on its TDY deployment by April 15.

    Read More

  • Nuclear Testing Persuasive Essay

    581 Words  | 3 Pages

    Moreover, weapons in the current stockpile are based on technology from the 1970s. In order to make sure that the weapons and delivery systems will perform exactly as intended, the US needs to resume nuclear testing. With the Stockpile Stewardship Program, the US is

    Read More

  • Social Conflict Theory Paper

    223 Words  | 1 Pages

    It also poses the problem of global warfare and the reintroduction of nuclear weaponry following the Cold War.

    Read More

More about An Argument For Deployment Of Space Weapons

Open Document