Russia accuses U.S. of seeking to weaponise outer space
- May 22, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Russia accuses U.S. of seeking to weaponise outer space
Sub: Science and tech
Sec: Defence
Tag: weaponise outer space
Context:
- Russia accused the US of seeking to place weapons in space for military confrontation.
Details:
- This accusation followed the US veto of a Russian non-proliferation motion at the UN.
- In February, the US expressed concern over Russia’s anti-satellite capability, fearing nuclear weapons in orbit.
- Both countries have proposed rival non-proliferation motions at the UN.
- Russia vetoed the US initiative last month, and the US, Britain, and France blocked Russia’s proposal on 20 May.
- Russia criticized the US initiative for focusing only on nuclear weapons.
- Despite tensions, the US and Russia still cooperate in space, sharing crew transport to the ISS.
Weaponization of Space vs. Militarization of Space
Weaponization of Space | Militarization of Space |
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Why Space Weaponization?
- Establish military supremacy on all fronts of warfare
- Lack of faith in current missile defense systems against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
- Preserve space assets from anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons
- Anti-satellites (ASATs) are weapons designed to destroy or disable satellites in orbit.
- They can be ground-based, air-based, or space-based. ASATs can use various methods to attack satellites, including kinetic impact, lasers, and directed energy weapons.
- Space supremacy complements sea, air, and land warfare
Implications of Space Weaponization:
- Mutual Suspicion: Fear of war leads to competition and aggressive deployment between nations
- Threat to Commercial and Scientific Missions: Military satellites’ secrecy affects coordination systems due to undisclosed orbital and radio frequency information
- Space Debris: Increases space debris, potentially leading to Kessler’s syndrome
- The Kessler Syndrome is a theoretical concept where the growth of space debris can lead to an escalating chain reaction of collisions, rendering Earth’s orbit overpopulated with objects and debris. This would make Earth’s orbit unusable for future space activities.
- Monopoly of Orbital Slots: Developed countries monopolize limited orbital slots, restricting scientific and commercial explorations
Global Frameworks to Prevent Space Weaponization:
- Outer Space Treaty 1967- It was conceptualized by the United Nations in 1967. It emphasizes that the use of outer space should be peaceful and beneficial to all mankind. It claims that one nation cannot claim national sovereignty in outer space.
- Prevention of an outer space arms race- It stresses the use of space for peaceful purposes. Further, it calls for the importance of avoiding an arms race.
Outer Space Treaty, 1967:
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