Defending America's Interests in Space

With President Obama's inauguration in January 2009, the stakes for space security in the 21st century may seem inconsequential in comparison to issues such as the global economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unlike his predecessor, the President Bush's National Security Strategy acknowledged that America's vital space interests may be challenged by state and non-state actors and, further, expressed the need to control the domain in the 2006 National Space Policy. Significant progress has been realized in the past eight years in recognizing our space vulnerabilities, however, these gains do not guarantee future forward movement. The United States uniquely relies on space assets for both soft and hard power, economic prosperity and global military power projection, respectively. This paper will consider the ends, ways, and means to defend America's interests in space with the following premise: The United States should implement a mix of active, passive, and deterrent measures to protect its vital national interests in space. It is within this context that the debate over weaponizing space should be assessed.