DISEC
Topic A: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
Definition of the Topic:
Space weapons are not just science fictions, it’s a part of our reality. The concept of utilizing space weapons can date back to the 1950's, the beginning of the Space Race. Ever since the start of Cold War, the space race is part of the arms race that the United States and the Union Soviet of Socialist Republics were developing their technology to gain upper hand in order to win the war. Various types of space weapons were introduced to the world during the Cold War. Space weapons include weapons that have the ability to attack space systems in orbit (i.e. anti-satellite weapons), attack targets on the earth from space (Orbital Bombardment), or disable missiles travelling through space (i.e. The Strategic Defense Initiative[1]).
The focus of this topic is about preventing the development of space-based weapons such as Space-to-Earth weapons like Orbital weaponry that enables its user to attack any target on Earth, and Space-to-Space weapons like“killer satellites”, which placed in space to destroy satellites or disable missiles travelling through space.
These space weapons will revolutionize the war we know, creating a new kind of war that will endanger the future and the peace of humanity.
Statement of the Problems:
Efforts in the United Nations to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes began in 1957, months prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite into Earth's orbit. Early proposals for prohibiting the use of space for military purposes and the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space were considered in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the United Nations.[2] The development of space weapon is the product under the influence of the Cold War arms race, and the space race is also a part of the arms race, the rocket technology was from the development of ballistic missiles[3]. During the 1960's and 1970's a number of agreements were adopted to prevent the weaponization of outer space. These include the Partial Test Ban Treaty[4], the Outer Space Treaty[5], the Rescue Agreement[6], the Agreement Relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization "Intelsat" (1971), the Liability Convention, formally titled the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972), the Launch Registration Convention[7], the Moon Agreement, formally entitled the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979). Although these treaties ban the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, they do not prevent states from placing other types of weapons in space, created a loophole that couldn't prevent the development of space weapons.
Since the early 1980's, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) has considered further proposals under the agenda item "prevention of an arms race in outer space", including draft treaties aimed at preventing the placement of weapons in outer space and prohibiting the use of anti-satellite weapons. Though the United States and the Soviet Union signed treaties to prevent the use of space or any celestial body for military purposes, there are still many uncertainties due to the escalating tension built in the Cold War era. In America, years of exploring possible anti-missile systems led President Ronald Reagan to pursue Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, the intent of this program was to develop a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system in order to prevent missile attacks from other countries, specifically the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, leaders ordered two separate studies that explored possible defenses against hypothetical American missiles, two orbital battle station defense systems called Skif and Kaskad. Skif is a laser-equipped space station module which would cover the low-orbit targets, and Kaskad is a guided missiles platform engages targets in high and geosynchronous orbits.
Although many space weapon programs were abandoned due to their lack of flexibility and high production costs, some programs remained under development. Even after the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union is no longer a threat to the western countries; many space weapon programs are still in development. The rapid growth of developing countries’ military strengths and the global war on terror led to the major power’s continuation of possible space weapon developments. The successful Chinese anti-satellite missile test in 2007 and Operation Burnt Frost, a US military operation to intercept and destroy a non-functioning U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite named USA-193[8] in 2008 raised the concerned of using anti-satellite weapons and the potential of using space-based weapons to counter it. On 12 February 2008, China and Russia jointly submitted to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT) in its Plenary Session. The two countries proposed to conclude a new international legal instrument through negotiation to prevent the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space, and to preserve a peaceful and tranquil outer space. Though many countries made efforts to prevent the militarization of space development, the development of space weapon has never disappeared with the Cold War, making the prevention of a space arms race hard to achieve.
[1] The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, was a program first initiated on March 23, 1983 under President Ronald Reagan.
[2] http://www.un.org/disarmament/topics/outerspace/
[3] At the end of World War II, American, British, and Soviet scientific intelligence teams competed to capture Germany's rocket engineers along with the German rockets themselves and the designs on which they were based. The United States recruited von Braun and most of his engineering team, who later helped develop the American missile and space exploration programs.
[4] The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1963)
[5] The Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1967)
[6] The Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1968)
[7] The Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975)
[8] USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21), was an American military reconnaissance satellite launched on December 14, 2006. The USA-193 was owned by the NRO and its precise function and purpose are classified. While the launch was successful, ground controllers lost control over the USA-193 satellite shortly after it was established on its orbit, and were unable to regain control. The satellite itself posed minimal risk of falling and causing damage.
Space weapons are not just science fictions, it’s a part of our reality. The concept of utilizing space weapons can date back to the 1950's, the beginning of the Space Race. Ever since the start of Cold War, the space race is part of the arms race that the United States and the Union Soviet of Socialist Republics were developing their technology to gain upper hand in order to win the war. Various types of space weapons were introduced to the world during the Cold War. Space weapons include weapons that have the ability to attack space systems in orbit (i.e. anti-satellite weapons), attack targets on the earth from space (Orbital Bombardment), or disable missiles travelling through space (i.e. The Strategic Defense Initiative[1]).
The focus of this topic is about preventing the development of space-based weapons such as Space-to-Earth weapons like Orbital weaponry that enables its user to attack any target on Earth, and Space-to-Space weapons like“killer satellites”, which placed in space to destroy satellites or disable missiles travelling through space.
These space weapons will revolutionize the war we know, creating a new kind of war that will endanger the future and the peace of humanity.
Statement of the Problems:
Efforts in the United Nations to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes began in 1957, months prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite into Earth's orbit. Early proposals for prohibiting the use of space for military purposes and the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space were considered in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the United Nations.[2] The development of space weapon is the product under the influence of the Cold War arms race, and the space race is also a part of the arms race, the rocket technology was from the development of ballistic missiles[3]. During the 1960's and 1970's a number of agreements were adopted to prevent the weaponization of outer space. These include the Partial Test Ban Treaty[4], the Outer Space Treaty[5], the Rescue Agreement[6], the Agreement Relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization "Intelsat" (1971), the Liability Convention, formally titled the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972), the Launch Registration Convention[7], the Moon Agreement, formally entitled the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979). Although these treaties ban the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, they do not prevent states from placing other types of weapons in space, created a loophole that couldn't prevent the development of space weapons.
Since the early 1980's, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) has considered further proposals under the agenda item "prevention of an arms race in outer space", including draft treaties aimed at preventing the placement of weapons in outer space and prohibiting the use of anti-satellite weapons. Though the United States and the Soviet Union signed treaties to prevent the use of space or any celestial body for military purposes, there are still many uncertainties due to the escalating tension built in the Cold War era. In America, years of exploring possible anti-missile systems led President Ronald Reagan to pursue Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, the intent of this program was to develop a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system in order to prevent missile attacks from other countries, specifically the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, leaders ordered two separate studies that explored possible defenses against hypothetical American missiles, two orbital battle station defense systems called Skif and Kaskad. Skif is a laser-equipped space station module which would cover the low-orbit targets, and Kaskad is a guided missiles platform engages targets in high and geosynchronous orbits.
Although many space weapon programs were abandoned due to their lack of flexibility and high production costs, some programs remained under development. Even after the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union is no longer a threat to the western countries; many space weapon programs are still in development. The rapid growth of developing countries’ military strengths and the global war on terror led to the major power’s continuation of possible space weapon developments. The successful Chinese anti-satellite missile test in 2007 and Operation Burnt Frost, a US military operation to intercept and destroy a non-functioning U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite named USA-193[8] in 2008 raised the concerned of using anti-satellite weapons and the potential of using space-based weapons to counter it. On 12 February 2008, China and Russia jointly submitted to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT) in its Plenary Session. The two countries proposed to conclude a new international legal instrument through negotiation to prevent the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space, and to preserve a peaceful and tranquil outer space. Though many countries made efforts to prevent the militarization of space development, the development of space weapon has never disappeared with the Cold War, making the prevention of a space arms race hard to achieve.
[1] The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, was a program first initiated on March 23, 1983 under President Ronald Reagan.
[2] http://www.un.org/disarmament/topics/outerspace/
[3] At the end of World War II, American, British, and Soviet scientific intelligence teams competed to capture Germany's rocket engineers along with the German rockets themselves and the designs on which they were based. The United States recruited von Braun and most of his engineering team, who later helped develop the American missile and space exploration programs.
[4] The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1963)
[5] The Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1967)
[6] The Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1968)
[7] The Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975)
[8] USA 193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21), was an American military reconnaissance satellite launched on December 14, 2006. The USA-193 was owned by the NRO and its precise function and purpose are classified. While the launch was successful, ground controllers lost control over the USA-193 satellite shortly after it was established on its orbit, and were unable to regain control. The satellite itself posed minimal risk of falling and causing damage.
Past UN Actions:
l UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)[1]
The United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), also known as the Outer Space Committee, was established in 1959 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 1472 (XIV)[2] to review international cooperation and devise UN programs related to the peaceful use of outer space, encourage research and dissemination of information on outer space, and consider legal issues arising from the exploration of outer space. It is the General Assembly's only committee dealing exclusively with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
l Outer Space Treaty[3][4]
Based on the UN resolution regarding the issue of the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, The treaty signed by both the United States and the Soviet Union, banned the placement and installation of nuclear weapons in Earth's orbit and on the Moon. It also banned the use of space or any celestial body for military purposes. It also establishes basic principles related to the peaceful use of outer space. The Treaty provides the basic framework for international space law.
l Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty[5]
In 1972, after the signing of the Outer Space Treaty, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty limited each nation to two anti-missile launch sites: one positioned to defend the capital city and one to defend a single base from which ICBMs were launched. However, like the Outer Space Treaty, it did not prohibit the signatories from investigating and researching space-based defense systems.
l Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities
Since 2005, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted further measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space, approving an annual resolution on “Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities.”
[1] http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/COPUOS/cop_overview.html
[2] http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_14_1472.html
[3] http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html
[4] http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/outer_space/text
[5] http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/abm/abm2.html
l UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)[1]
The United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), also known as the Outer Space Committee, was established in 1959 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 1472 (XIV)[2] to review international cooperation and devise UN programs related to the peaceful use of outer space, encourage research and dissemination of information on outer space, and consider legal issues arising from the exploration of outer space. It is the General Assembly's only committee dealing exclusively with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
l Outer Space Treaty[3][4]
Based on the UN resolution regarding the issue of the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, The treaty signed by both the United States and the Soviet Union, banned the placement and installation of nuclear weapons in Earth's orbit and on the Moon. It also banned the use of space or any celestial body for military purposes. It also establishes basic principles related to the peaceful use of outer space. The Treaty provides the basic framework for international space law.
l Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty[5]
In 1972, after the signing of the Outer Space Treaty, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty limited each nation to two anti-missile launch sites: one positioned to defend the capital city and one to defend a single base from which ICBMs were launched. However, like the Outer Space Treaty, it did not prohibit the signatories from investigating and researching space-based defense systems.
l Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities
Since 2005, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted further measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space, approving an annual resolution on “Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities.”
[1] http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/COPUOS/cop_overview.html
[2] http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_14_1472.html
[3] http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html
[4] http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/outer_space/text
[5] http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/abm/abm2.html
Questions:
Even though the United Nations had made many efforts, yet, there are still many difficulties lying in the way to achieve peaceful space development. Delegates should consider a few questions before coming up with a feasible solution.
1. How to improve the effectiveness of current UN organizations?
2. How to make a treaty that is more effective?
3. A mechanism that is effective for preventing a space arms race.
4. Make sure all the countries take their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of preventing a space arms race.
Even though the United Nations had made many efforts, yet, there are still many difficulties lying in the way to achieve peaceful space development. Delegates should consider a few questions before coming up with a feasible solution.
1. How to improve the effectiveness of current UN organizations?
2. How to make a treaty that is more effective?
3. A mechanism that is effective for preventing a space arms race.
4. Make sure all the countries take their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of preventing a space arms race.
References:
1. United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space--Overview
http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/COPUOS/cop_overview.html
2. A/RES/47/51 Prevention of an arms race in outer space
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r051.htm
3. A/RES/51/44 Prevention of an arms race in outer space
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/a51r044.htm
4. Nuclear Files: Key Issues: Space Weapons
http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/space-weapons/index.htm
5. THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI): STAR WARS – Cold War Museum
http://www.coldwar.org/articles/80s/SDI-StarWars.asp
6. Science: Sun Gun -- TIME
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852344-1,00.html
7. Federation of American Scientists :: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/ArmsControl_NEW/nonproliferation/NFZ/NP-NFZ-PAROS.html
8. Federation of American Scientists :: Military Analysis Network
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/index.html
9. Outer Space Treaty
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html
10. Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_21_2222.html
11. Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_18_1962.html
12. TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS ON THE LIMITATION OF ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE SYSTEMS
http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/abm/abm2.html
1. United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space--Overview
http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/en/COPUOS/cop_overview.html
2. A/RES/47/51 Prevention of an arms race in outer space
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r051.htm
3. A/RES/51/44 Prevention of an arms race in outer space
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/a51r044.htm
4. Nuclear Files: Key Issues: Space Weapons
http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/space-weapons/index.htm
5. THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI): STAR WARS – Cold War Museum
http://www.coldwar.org/articles/80s/SDI-StarWars.asp
6. Science: Sun Gun -- TIME
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852344-1,00.html
7. Federation of American Scientists :: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/ArmsControl_NEW/nonproliferation/NFZ/NP-NFZ-PAROS.html
8. Federation of American Scientists :: Military Analysis Network
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/index.html
9. Outer Space Treaty
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html
10. Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_21_2222.html
11. Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_18_1962.html
12. TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS ON THE LIMITATION OF ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE SYSTEMS
http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/abm/abm2.html