The crux of the debate as to whether the United States (US) should immediately field space weapons is not whether another nation will eventually field like weapons of its own. Rather, the primary issue is whether an immediate space weaponization program best serves national security interests. The economic significance of the civilian space sector further complicates the issue. In the year 2000, economic activity in space is anticipated to exceed $150 billion. The majority of the profits that will accrue from space activities will benefit the US. Additionally, the implications of weaponizing space far exceed immediate space control issues. The United Nations and both the Russian and Chinese governments have tried to link existing space law to proposed space weapon capabilities not inclusive in any treaty to which the US is a signatory. The anti-satellite weapons inherent in the proposed Nation Missile Defense program pose a threat to missile launch early warning assets and subsequently to nuclear deterrence. An adequate evaluation of the utility of fielding space weapons must take into consideration several factors beyond technological feasibility and military applications. This monograph examines the benefits and drawbacks of an aggressive US space weaponization program. The US possesses a lead in space capabilities that places it in a position to field space weapons first and guarantee the security of national space assets for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the dependence of US military forces on space enablers poses a vulnerability that an adversary will likely attempt to exploit in any future conflict. Advocates of weaponizing space view the failure to weaponize space first would represent an abdication of responsibility by US government officials. The risks associated with weaponizing space include the possibility of an increase in nuclear tensions and a diminishment of US national power in terms of diplomatic, information and economic influence. A prudent US government policy must assume that the likelihood of space remaining weapons free in the future is marginal. The US holds a substantial lead over any other space faring nation, and the probability is low that an adversary could field space weapons clandestinely. This monograph concludes that the US should continue to develop the technologies and infrastructure necessary to quickly implement a space weapons fielding program, but that the need to pursue an immediate effort has not arrived.

ADA 395132 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)