The Danger of Weaponizing Outer Space

Mike Moore, Research Fellow, Independent Institute

(Mar 19, 2008 at the University of Texas at Austin, LBJ School of Public Affairs)

Mike Moore, a research fellow with the Independent Institute, discussed the current state of space weapon technology and warned that the U.S. is drifting toward a policy of space control that will lead to a new arms race. Acknowledging that space-based weapons are, at this point in time, technologically impossible, Moore focused on anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons and the threat that an arsenal of such weapons would pose due to their ability to disrupt communication and information systems.

Moore asserted that future worldwide problems that must be tackled, such as climate change, require a cooperation that will be completely undermined by a new space-focused arms race. Therefore, the opportunity cost of this new arms race will harm the U.S. and the world in general.

Moore called for discussions to begin for creating a new space arms treaty, an idea that has been suggested by countries like China and Russia.

Category:

News & Politics

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• space
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• race

[WarmongerWW3]

@JbMcQuade06 The planet Earth will be destroyed anyway in just a few billion years because the sun will become a Red Giant..so the humans will need to create ways to live without the Earth. This requires technological development. And the history of humankind shows us that major scientific discoveries and technological development happened in wartime, encouraged by the wars. So in the end of the day, the wars will save the humanity ! Quod erat demonstrandum



[JbMcQuade06]

@WarmongerWW3 it wont be when every country puts weapons in space and everyone is dead

[WarmongerWW3]

Fortunately, Obama administration is also Weaponizing space. As you can see now in 2011, the militarization of outer space is inevitable. Frankly, other countries should try to do the same.

War is the best incentive for technological development.

[CutterScene]

bribes, women and booze?

[majinpvegeta]

how the hell did you get an hour and a half long video on youtube?? LOLOL

[Kolyatron]

Too bad you can't hear the questions. :\

[thomuk2006]

war is awful

[leonphelps123]

Death to Bush