| November 15, 2010 |  |
New Report Recommends 10 Steps the United States Should Take to Safeguard Space
Union of Concerned Scientists Says Administration Must Work Cooperatively With Other Spacefaring Nations
WASHINGTON (November 15, 2010) – The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has identified 10 near-term, practical steps the Obama administration should take to safeguard U.S. satellites and protect space. It announced its recommendations today in a report, “Securing the Skies,” shortly before the Obama administration is expected to release its National Security Space Strategy, which will define U.S. strategic goals for national security aspects of space.
“As space gets more crowded, risks to satellites are growing,” said UCS Global Security Program Senior Scientist Laura Grego, one of the report’s authors. “And increasingly, insecurity about space activities and the motives behind them are creating friction among spacefaring countries. Unfortunately, the response from the international community, including the United States, has been inadequate. If the Obama administration adopted our recommendations, it could help defuse these tensions and ensure a more secure future in space.”
The United States depends on satellites for a broad range of critical civil and military services. It therefore has a keen interest in keeping satellites safe and secure, protecting the space environment, and ensuring that insecurity in space does not threaten security on the ground. To that end, the UCS report finds that the administration must work cooperatively with other spacefaring nations on solutions. “Space security cannot be achieved unilaterally, or solely through military means,” Grego said. “It requires coordination, cooperation and diplomacy. Given the United States is the dominant player in space, U.S. leadership is essential.”
The UCS report recommends that the Obama administration:
- provide detailed guidance for U.S. policymakers that emphasizes international cooperation; reaffirms that all countries have equal rights to the peaceful use of space; and promotes a balanced view of commercial, civil, and military uses of space;
- declare that the United States will not intentionally damage or disable satellites operating in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty, and pledge that it will not be the first country to station dedicated weapons in space. The administration should press other space powers to make the same pledge;
- preserve valuable satellite capabilities, and make them less tempting targets, by making satellite more resistant to interference and developing ways to quickly replace them or work around them if they are disabled;
- engage in international discussions on space, assemble a team with the appropriate range of expertise, and work jointly with other countries to identify the most productive venue and agenda for negotiations;
- develop and implement transparency measures to improve safety and predictability in space, improve U.S. space surveillance capabilities, and develop options for verifying international compliance with potential space agreements.
The UCS report provides a broader approach to space security than is expected from the Obama administration’s National Security Space Strategy. The strategy, which is expected to be released before the end of the year, is being developed jointly by the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
“The Obama White House has taken some welcome steps to address space security issues,” said Grego. “But for any significant progress to happen internationally, we’re going to need real U.S. leadership, and we’re not there yet.”
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
