Arms Control and Space Security

Abstract

With the increasing reliance on space assets for civilian, commercial, and military purposes, there is a need to safeguard their full operability and enhance their security. The uncontrolled use of weapons in outer space has the potential to increase space debris, destroy critical space assets and impair their ongoing functionality, and negatively impact space security. The current international law regime applicable to outer space does not prohibit the placement or use of all weapons in outer space, prohibiting only nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, and is not currently capable of preventing a conventional arms race in outer space.