STAR LAWS LEGAL CONTROLS ON ARMED CONFLICT IN OUTER SPACE

摘要

The idea of space warfare has long dominated movie and television scripts. However, what has been a staple of science fiction is now rapidly becoming an acute reality. Modern military operations rely heavily on satellites for communications, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, navigation and targeting. At the same time, space weaponry capabilities are being developed by a number of states. Anti-satellite systems are reaching a stage of developmental maturity and may well be deployed before too long. At present there is an undeclared military space race unfolding, with countries vying for ascendency in this potential theatre of operations.