Space Weaponization in the 21st Century: A Global Protection Shield

摘要

This paper examines the militarization and weaponization of space from 1957 to the present and looks at current threats with a vision towards 2025. The U.S., and the rest of the world, has become irreversibly dependent on space and this dependency has become a critical vulnerability. Several of the threats to our space assets are discussed along with some current and near-term capabilities to counter them. The ethical and legal justifications of using these technologies are critically examined through the filters of Just War Theory and the constraints of international treaties. The paper explores policy changes that need to occur for the U.S. to move forward in space. Finally, a proposed methodology for establishing a global defense shield, intended to rid the planet of ballistic missiles and significantly decrease the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, is proposed.