Published 2006-10-23 by OHMYNEWS
America will accept no limits in its access to the final frontier
George W. Bush has signed a new policy which aims to protect U.S. interests in space as well as prevent America's "adversaries" from space access for hostile action.
The 10-page document, which is considered to be the most important modification in space policy in the last 10 years, reserves U.S. freedom of action in space and rejects any international agreements that seek to limit it.
"The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space... and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests," it says.
National security is given central place in the document. It also stresses the dependence of U.S. national security upon "space capabilities, and this dependence will grow."
The first mentioned fundamental goal is to "strengthen the nation's space leadership and ensure that space capabilities are available in time to further U.S. national security, homeland security and foreign policy objectives."
Though not calling for the development or deployment of weapons in space, the U.S. dismisses any proposals to ban space weapons.
The document also includes a section called "Space-related Security Classification," which mentions the satellite photo-reconnaissance activities by the U.S. government for "purposes including, but not limited to, homeland security."
The U.S. will maintain a near real-time satellite photo-reconnaissance capability, collecting signals intelligence and assigns the task to "provide a robust foreign space intelligence collection and analysis capability that provides timely information and data to support national and homeland security" to the hands of the Director of National Intelligence.
The new policy also sets out U.S. space ambitions for civilian purposes. It calls for the implementation of a sustained "innovative human and robotic exploration program" and for the execution of a "a sustained and affordable human and robotic program of space exploration" and to "develop, acquire, and use civil space systems to advance fundamental scientific knowledge of our Earth system, solar system, and universe."
The U.S. also commits to "encouraging and facilitating a growing entrepreneurial space sector."
This is the 4.0 version of U.S. space policy and the first revision over the last 10 years. The last revision, which placed high priorities on education and scientific exploration, was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Commenting on the new policy, international experts said it is a response to a post 9/11 world of terrorist actions. It also addresses concerns that "technological advances would enable potential enemies to disrupt orbiting U.S. satellites" raised by the Pentagon in a report after the Sept. 11 event.
Two years ago, the U.S. Air force called for a more dynamic military arrangement in space and stressed that the Pentagon must improve space capabilities for missile warning systems as well as multi-stage missile defense systems.
Military experts warned that by denying others from taking part in discussion about space weapons, the U.S. raises the skepticism of the world community about whether it might develop such a weapon.
Some went as far as calling it a new vision of unilateralism in space policy. They accuse the U.S. of seeking to claim its rights while denying others' rights.
President Bush signed the National Space Policy on Aug. 31 but the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy first released it on Oct. 6.
America will accept no limits in its access to the final frontier
George W. Bush has signed a new policy which aims to protect U.S. interests in space as well as prevent America's "adversaries" from space access for hostile action.
The 10-page document, which is considered to be the most important modification in space policy in the last 10 years, reserves U.S. freedom of action in space and rejects any international agreements that seek to limit it.
"The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space... and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests," it says.
National security is given central place in the document. It also stresses the dependence of U.S. national security upon "space capabilities, and this dependence will grow."
The first mentioned fundamental goal is to "strengthen the nation's space leadership and ensure that space capabilities are available in time to further U.S. national security, homeland security and foreign policy objectives."
Though not calling for the development or deployment of weapons in space, the U.S. dismisses any proposals to ban space weapons.
The document also includes a section called "Space-related Security Classification," which mentions the satellite photo-reconnaissance activities by the U.S. government for "purposes including, but not limited to, homeland security."
The U.S. will maintain a near real-time satellite photo-reconnaissance capability, collecting signals intelligence and assigns the task to "provide a robust foreign space intelligence collection and analysis capability that provides timely information and data to support national and homeland security" to the hands of the Director of National Intelligence.
The new policy also sets out U.S. space ambitions for civilian purposes. It calls for the implementation of a sustained "innovative human and robotic exploration program" and for the execution of a "a sustained and affordable human and robotic program of space exploration" and to "develop, acquire, and use civil space systems to advance fundamental scientific knowledge of our Earth system, solar system, and universe."
The U.S. also commits to "encouraging and facilitating a growing entrepreneurial space sector."
This is the 4.0 version of U.S. space policy and the first revision over the last 10 years. The last revision, which placed high priorities on education and scientific exploration, was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Commenting on the new policy, international experts said it is a response to a post 9/11 world of terrorist actions. It also addresses concerns that "technological advances would enable potential enemies to disrupt orbiting U.S. satellites" raised by the Pentagon in a report after the Sept. 11 event.
Two years ago, the U.S. Air force called for a more dynamic military arrangement in space and stressed that the Pentagon must improve space capabilities for missile warning systems as well as multi-stage missile defense systems.
Military experts warned that by denying others from taking part in discussion about space weapons, the U.S. raises the skepticism of the world community about whether it might develop such a weapon.
Some went as far as calling it a new vision of unilateralism in space policy. They accuse the U.S. of seeking to claim its rights while denying others' rights.
President Bush signed the National Space Policy on Aug. 31 but the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy first released it on Oct. 6.
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