This overview aims to inform the public discussion of space-based weapons by examining their characteristics, potential attributes, limitations, legality, and utility. The authors do not argue for or against space weapons, nor do they estimate the potential costs and performance of specific programs, but instead sort through the realities and myths surrounding space weapons in order to ensure that debates and discussions are based on fact.

"Project Air Force." "Prepared for the United States Air Force." "MR-1209-AF."

History --Early Rocketry -- Satellite Feasibility Studies -- Dawn of the Space Age -- Bombardment Satellites -- Defenses -- ABM Treaty -- The Strategic Defense Initiative -- Post--Cold War -- Current U.S. Policy and Plans -- Legal Considerations -- Space Treaties -- Arms Control Treaties -- Other Treaties -- Space Weapons Kinds and Capabilities -- Types of Space Weapons -- Directed-Energy Weapons -- General Characteristics -- Targets -- Medium -- Weapon -- Basing -- Example: Laser for Missile Targets -- Mass-to-Target Weapons -- General Characteristics -- Kinetic-Energy Weapons Above the Atmosphere -- Kinetic-Energy Weapons Against Terrestrial Targets -- Conventional Weapons Against Terrestrial Targets -- Employment -- Employment -- Functions and Tasks -- Component and Sequence -- Command -- What Is Commanded -- How They Are Commanded -- Who Commands Them -- How Might the United States Acquire Space Weapons? -- How Might the United States Decide? -- Deliberate Decisions to Acquire -- Incidental Decisions to Acquire -- Assuming a Decision to Acquire, How Might Transition Occur? -- Incremental Decision -- Monolithic Decision -- Scope, Sequence, and Visibility of Implementation -- Consequences -- How Might Others Acquire Space Weapons? -- Peer Competitor -- Decision -- Transition -- Friend or Ally -- Capability -- Decision -- Transition -- Neither Ally nor Adversary -- Capability -- Decision -- Transition -- Nonpeer Adversary -- Nonstate Coalition -- Advantages -- Access and Reach -- Responsiveness -- Distance.