Latest news on the debate over the weaponization of outer space from Spacedebate.org. http://www.spacedebate.org/news.xml contact@spacedebate.org (Greg Schnippel) A clutch of former Pentagon brass is helping to start a company that offers a new service: satellites intended solely for military communications that would be built, launched and owned by private investors. (Wall Street Journal -- July 1, 2009) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:30:00 -0700 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124640148159976125.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124640148159976125.html Michio Kaku surveys the growing number nations planning competing missions to the moon (including Japan, China, India, and the U.S.) and argues that the growing lunar competition should motivate a re-examination of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty "before national rivalries and tensions heat up as we approach 2020." (Wall Street Journal -- June 24, 2009) Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:45:00 -0700 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124571630311739305.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124571630311739305.html Russia will give an "absolutely asymmetric" answer to the possible militarization of space by the United States rather than responding with their own space weapons according to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin. (China View -- June 17, 2009) Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:00:00 -0700 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/17/content_11557899.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/17/content_11557899.htm Russia hopes U.S. President Barack Obama will not pursue his predecessor's plan to deploy weapons in space but Moscow is ready to respond appropriately to any such moves, according to a senior Russian general. (Reuters -- June 17, 2009) Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:15:00 -0700 http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLH836756 http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLH836756 North Korea may be capable of hitting West Coast cities with its missiles within three years, according to Marine Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but is unlikely to be able to deliver a nuclear warhead in that time frame. (Los Angeles Times -- June 16, 2009) Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-north-korea-missiles17-2009jun17,0,4546204.story http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-north-korea-missiles17-2009jun17,0,4546204.story A 10-year forecast of satellite and launcher markets has good news and bad news for hardware manufacturers: There will be many more satellites to build and launch, but the average manufacturing and launch price will increase only marginally, if at all, and may even drop after accounting for inflation. (Space.com -- June 15, 2009) Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:30:00 -0700 http://www.space.com/news/090615-satellite-futures.html http://www.space.com/news/090615-satellite-futures.html Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtso, the head of Russian strategic missile forces, has argued that any successor to START I, the key 1991 strategic arms control agreement with the United States, should contain a ban on deploying offensive weapons in outer space. (Global Security Newswire -- June 11, 2009) Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:30:00 -0700 http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090611_3489.php http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090611_3489.php For 15 years, scientists have benefited from data gleaned by U.S. classified satellites of natural fireball events in Earth's atmosphere but a recent U.S. military policy decision now explicitly states that these observations are classified. (Space.com -- June 10, 2009) Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:15:00 -0700 http://www.space.com/news/090610-military-fireballs.html http://www.space.com/news/090610-military-fireballs.html Defunct microsatellites pose a growing space debris risk and must be better tracked in orbit, according to Gary Payton, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force for space. (Aviation Week and Space Technology -- June 8, 2009) Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/TRACK060809.xml&headline=Payton%20Warns%20Of%20Small%20Satellite%20Danger http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/TRACK060809.xml&headline=Payton%20Warns%20Of%20Small%20Satellite%20Danger While the United States has a clear interest in alternative energy, India’s needs are arguably even greater. Taylor Dinerman argues that the two countries should work together to develop space-based solar power solutions that can benefit them both. (The Space Review -- June 6, 2009) Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:15:00 -0700 http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1389/1 http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1389/1