The Union of Concerned Scientists has identified steps the Obama administration should take to safeguard U.S. satellites and protect space.
A report released Nov. 15, “Securing the Skies,” finds that the administration must work cooperatively with other spacefaring nations on solutions.
“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.”
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, within the next month. It is being developed jointly by the Defense Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
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;
- make satellites less tempting targets by making them more resistant to interference and developing ways to quickly replace them or work around them if they are disabled; and
- 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 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.”