Spacedebate.org: New Arguments Latest arguments added to the database on Spacedebate.org http://www.spacedebate.org/ U.S. Should Share its Space Surveillance Data U.S has much to gain from more open sharing of its space surveillance data with commercial providers and other countries. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3539 Countermeasures can Easily Defeat Missile Defenses Adversaries have the advantage in attacking as simple and cheap countermeasures can easily defeat costly missile defense systems. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:45:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3538 Active Defenses could Defend Satellites Against Attack Countries can use active defenses like decoys or defensive satellites to protect their space assets from attack. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:45:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3536 Active Defenses are Not Viable meants to Protect Satellites from Attack Current technologies are not sophisticated enough to allow satellite operators to rely on active defenses to protect their satellites. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:45:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3537 Missile Defense is not a National Security Priority for the U.S. Missile defense is not needed for U.S. national security and would only be destabilizing. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:15:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3535 There is an Inherent Norm against the Use of Space Weapons Historically, whenever the U.S. or other governments have considered space weapon programs in the past they have backed down. Some authors have discussed whether it is possible to identify an inherent norm against the deployment and use of space weapons in the international system. Possible constraints on the development of space weapons include:
  • Risks of collective bads that would threaten the use of outer space for all parties (i.e. space debris, HAND);
  • Fear of igniting a space arms race;
  • High monetary cost and low survivability of space weapons compared to conventional means;
  • Transparent nature of outer space increases risks of getting caught developing covert space weapon programs.
 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:45:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3350 Cost of Space Weapon Programs not worth Improvements in Security A careful examination of space-based weapon programs (including space-based missile defense, anti-satellite weapons, and space-based strike) shows that effective coverage would require a vast constellation of expensive, vulnerable, and easily defeated space weapons. The total cost of ownership (including the necessary infrastructure) is not justified by the potential contributions of space weapons to national security. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:45:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3349 U.S. Destruction of USA 193 Spy Satellite was not Justified The US operation to destroy the USA 193 spy satellite was not justified on humanitarian grounds as the risk of the satellite re-entering the earth's atmosphere and spreading hydrazine was too small to justify the effort. Without this justification, the shot can be seen as a political effort to boost the flagging missile defense program or as a show of force response to China's anti-satellite weapons test last year. Either way, the test is likely to encourage other nations to make similar tests and will be used as justification for other nations to develop anti-satellite weapons. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:30:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3348 U.S. Destruction of USA 193 Spy Satellite was Justified The U.S. decision and subsequent destruction of ailing spy satellite USA 193 was justified on humanitarian grounds. The satellite was on an uncontrolled re-entry course that could have ended with it crashing into populated areas and contaminating them with the toxic substance hydrazine. The operation was conducted within international guidelines for dealing with re-entry risks and was with consistent with historical precedent. Opponents who charge that this was a test of missile defense systems fail to recognize the unique nature of this operation and its inapplicability to the missile defense mission. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3347 Globalization of Space Services Market makes Unilateral Space Dominance Unlikely The global nature of the space services market complicates the ability of any one country to dominate outer space militarily. For example, the U.S. military currently relies on the services (bandwidth, imagery, telecommunications, etc) of some multinational space conglomerates that could also control satellites that provide the same services to U.S. adversaries. Technically, the U.S. may be able to disable enemy satellites but it may be politically restrained from doing so. Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:30:00 -0700 http://www.spacedebate.org/argument/3343