10 recommendations shortly before Obama is expected to release his National Security Space Strategy
The recommendations of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), shortly before Obama is expected to release his National Security Space Strategy, which will define U.S. strategic goals for national security aspects of space:
“1. Elaborate on the administration’s National Space Policy and publicly articulate its approach and goals, both to provide clear high-level guidance for U.S. policy makers— military and nonmilitary alike—and to clarify U.S. intentions for the international community.
The approach and goals should:
• Emphasize international cooperation rather than
unilateral actions.
• Reaffirm that all countries have the same rights to
the peaceful use of space.
• Take a more balanced view of commercial, civil,
and military uses of space.
• Support and reinforce long-held norms against station-
ing weapons in space and against disabling or destroying
satellites.
2. Declare that the United States will not intentionally
damage or disable any satellites operating in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty, and pledge that the United States will not be the first to station dedicated weapons in space. Strongly urge the other space powers to make parallel pronouncements.
3. Declare that the United States will not develop or deploy space-based missile defense interceptors. Pledge not to use any element of the U.S. land-, sea-, or air-based missile defense systems to attack or destroy a satellite. And review plans to sell systems with this capability to other countries in order to ensure that any missile interceptors sold by the United States will not be used as anti-satellite weapons.
4. Vigorously pursue a capability-preserving strategy and make satellites less attractive targets by reducing their vulnerabilities; building in redundancies; improving the capacity to rapidly reconstitute key functions; and devel- oping air-, space-, or ground-based backup systems.
5. Modify U.S. export-control and related regulations to reduce unnecessary barriers to commercial and civil space cooperation.
6. Begin discussions with the international community to identify the most productive venue and agenda for nego- tiations on space security and sustainability. Play a leading role in setting up these discussions.
7. Assemble a negotiating team and begin building the diplomatic, technical, legal, and other kinds of expertise needed to support negotiations. Encourage other coun- tries to do so as well.
8. Appoint a high-level expert panel to review and prioritize space situational awareness missions and to recommend corresponding improvements to U.S. space surveillance capabilities.
9. Create a standing program to assess and improve options for verifying compliance with potential space security agreements.
10. Develop and implement transparency measures aimed at improving safety and predictability in space.”
