Pegasus Research Consortium

QuoteOriginally posted by DJW001 (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread789635/pg11#pid13180490)

All space based weapons are banned.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

This is a short post, but one that for me deserves attention.  If space based weapons are banned then what reason do we have to think there are any?

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Space Law

In 1962, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution outlining how, "[t]he exploration and use of outer space shall be carried on for the benefit and in the interests of all mankind. Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space (http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_18_1962.html)

While the principles outlined in the resolution were sound enough, they fell short of prohibiting the weaponisation of outer space.  In response to the dangers posed of a nation stationing missiles in orbit over another to gain a decisive advantage, the UK, Russian and U.S.A governments sponsored a treaty that came into force in October, 1967.


The Outer Space Treaty

The Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following principles:

    the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
    outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
    outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means;
    States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
    the Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
    astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
    States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities;
    States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and
    States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html


The parts above highlighted in blue specifies that space should only be used for exclusively peaceful purposes and explicitly forbids the placing of weapons of mass destruction on a celestial body, in orbit or in outer space.


So, is that all there is to it.  Most major nations are subject to the terms of the treaty so surely the weaponisation of space is not even up for discussion?  Yeah, right!

Full Spectrum Dominance and Space Based Weapons

The Pentagon's post Cold War aim of Full spectrum dominance is well known.  In the modern era, full spectrum includes outer space.  As an absolute minimum, there is no way the military will risk not being able to defend its space based assets FROM SPACE in my opinion.

It's politically sensitive, but it's going to happen. Some people don't want to hear this, and it sure isn't in vogue ... but—absolutely—we're going to fight in space. We're going to fight from space and we're going to fight into space...
General Joseph W.Ashy
Former COMMANDER IN CHIEF U.S. Space Command


Take a look at this unclassified document from 1990.  It is the literature from a National War College seminar.  The following snippet is taken from the section on policy regarding space weaponisation.

USAF Vice Chief of Staff General Thomas S. Moorman Jr. said in a June 1996 speech: "Undoubtedly the most provocative subject in any discussion of the future of space is the subject of space weapons and the likelihood of their use. Here I am referring to the broadest categories: Space-based lasers to shoot down hostile ICBMs, space weapons that attack other satellites, or weapons released from space platforms that destroy terrestrial targets. Today, these kinds of systems clearly break the current thresholds of acceptability ... But the 21st century could well see a change"2.

This sentiment was echoed again by the commander in chief of U.S. Space Command, General Howell M. Estes III, in his comments to Congress: "Space remains on the cutting edge—support to our warfighter, even the potential for war itself, is moving from Earth into space"3. This outlook will likely shape U.S. space initiatives in the immediate future.
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA433750


I could go into evidence regarding secret programs but see Zorgon's material on his Navy Space Command info thread. (http://www.thelivingmoon.com/forum/index.php?topic=13.0)


Now, the United States is the Master of Space. It dominates as the owner and user of space systems, both civilian and military. "Full spectrum dominance" - control and dominance of land, sea, air and, more recently, space, is still the goal of some within the U.S. Defense Department. But what are the realities behind these aims? Trying to track down what the Defense Department is spending on space weapons projects is a tricky business.
SOURCE: http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/2010/mastersofspace/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtYQMQI1NIs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frw87_Fbc8g