Frank Rose, deputy assistant secretary for space and defense policy in the U.S. Department of State, recently wrote an interesting op-ed entitled "Addressing the Challenges of Space Security" [Commentary, April 8, page 35]. He talks about the U.S. National Space Policy "pursuing a comprehensive approach to the challenges in the space environment," and the progress being made in discussions on the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. Mr. Rose is a security expert, therefore his focus on space security is understandable; what is not understandable is why the international community, and first of all the United States, wishes to address space traffic management and the preservation of the space environment through a diplomatic initiative that is mainly meant to put to rest a longstanding request from Russia and China to negotiate a treaty forbidding weapons in space.
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