THE CADRE PAPERS: Does the United States Need Space-Based Weapons

摘要

The world may be on the verge of a new era of warfare, one where battles are not only fought within the biosphere of the earth but also in the space surrounding it. Recent conflicts have shown the tremendous advantages conferred upon those who have the advantage of space-based assets, limited though they are, to helping forces navigate, communicate, and spy upon their enemies. Some argue that fighting in space itself is inevitable, while others hold that space should be maintained as a sanctuary, free of weapons. The purpose of this study is not to argue for or against the weaponization of space, but rather to examine the kinds of weapons that have been proposed for use in space and compare their capabilities with those of their surface-based counterparts. In making this analysis, the efficacy of various concepts will be measured by balancing three measures: cost, technical feasibility, and each weapon's ability to provide the advantages of using space to the United States (US) and her allies or denying such advantages to an enemy.