The important factor here is that once a state has established weapons in space capable of shooting down rockets and launch vehicles in boost, no other state can put weapons there. Total domination of space is effected. Fears of an arms race in space are eliminated. Only in the situation where more than one side can place weapons into space is an arms race possible (e.g. the Cold War). This is because both sides will be attempting to fill and dominate the position before the other, taking advantage of orbital placement to acquire tactical superiority over the process. Where such an indeterminate outcome is possible, both sides have an incentive to create legal and international restraints that make it difficult for either side to engage in such an activity. If, as is the case today (though for how long is unknown), only the United States has the capacity to place weapons into space quickly enough to gain an insurmountable edge on its potential rivals, then a window of opportunity exists to seize this vital territory without significantly countering space opposition or competition. Once in place, the entry cost for an opponent to attempt to vie for space dominance is too high

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Dolman, Everett C. Space Power and US Hegemony: Maintaining a Liberal World Order in the 21st Century. : , 2003. [ 3 quotes ] [ page 7 ]