Alternatives to a space weapons treaty

Brian Weeden, Technical Consultant to Secure World Foundation, is the author of "Alternatives to a space weapons treaty" featured in the web edition of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Many advocate for a comprehensive treaty prohibiting the development and fielding of space weapons, while others support a comprehensive space security strategy that addresses the same concerns in an incremental way. Weeden's article highlights the difficulties inherent in both approaches and reminds readers that there are many different ways to handle complex and often controversial space security matters.

Key points in Weeden's article include the problem of defining space weapons in part due to the dual-use nature of the technologies involved and the problem of intent, the essence of international law, and the "building block" method to establishing an international space security regime. Current international cooperation on distinct areas of space security, including civil space situational awareness, mitigation of orbital debris, detection and deflection of near Earth objects, and the use of space assets to support human and environmental security means that, in time, a comprehensive system designed to ensure the safe, secure, sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space will eventually emerge.