Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Space security requires global government.

In response to the Press Statement of Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Secretary of State, Washington, DC January 17, 2012

There is no doubt that the sustainable use of Earth’s orbit space environment is at serious risk from space debris.
There is also consensus that ensuring the security of our space systems is essential to numerous aspects of our national security and of vital interest to the global community.
Satellite systems enable the free flow of information across a variety of platforms that expand global markets, enhance weather forecasting and environmental monitoring, enable global navigation, transportation, and military targeting, and provide instantaneous data regarding natural and man made disasters.
Unless the international community successfully addresses the problem of space debris the orbital environment around earth will become increasingly hazardous to human spaceflight and all satellite systems. Such a hazard has security consequences for us all.
In response to this challenge, the US has joined with the European Union and other nations to develop an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. This Code of Conduct is intended to “help maintain the long-term sustainability, safety, stability, and security of space”. Unfortunately, establishing guidelines for the responsible use of space, will be as effective as any other unenforceable international agreement.
No nation will constrain it’s national security-related activities in space without assurances all others will.
Working to reverse the threatening trend that is populating orbital space with lethal debris will require 100 percent involvement. Any one nation, under any threat circumstance will move unconstrained to gain advantage of the high ground that orbital space offers.

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