MisTek - Technological Misbehaviour

For years, governments, such as the United States, have poured billions of dollars into high tech space technology. Most of it has been pretty benign, compared to the other technologies being pursued on land. The most objectionable known to the common folk have been spy satellites and the “Star Wars” initiative, neither of which has offensive capabilities (offensive as in they can kill you, at least).

Recently, however, some people have become concerned with hostile government activity in outer space, among them Bruce Gagnon, who runs the “Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space” organization up in Maine. A lot of Gagnon’s writing reads like it’s from the tin-foil hat section of the local mental ward, but as the adage goes, there can be truth in the ravings of madmen.

One cause of this concern is the upcoming “March Storm”, an annual aerospace lobby session on Capitol Hill. Apparently this year is full of companies just itching to give the US space-based weapons capabilities. Many object to this, citing (morality aside, of course) the massive budgets these projects require, and illegality due to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (commonly known as the Outer Space Treaty). However, the US government is not known for frugality, especially under the George W. Bush administration. Also, the Outer Space Treaty is very softly worded and vague (as most treaties are). The only weapons specifically outlawed by it are nuclear weapons and other ‘weapons of mass destruction’. It outlaws military bases and maneuvers, but is careful to mention that use of the military for “scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes shall not be prohibited. And face it, nothing short of a war up there will get a country to admit whatever it is doing is not with ‘peaceful purposes’ in mind. Failing that, the current administration has also shown it is not above withdrawing from treaties that it just doesn’t like. President Bush has already called for a permanent base on the moon by 2020.

So how serious is the issue of space militarization? Most likely it’s just a matter of time. Many countries have quite a lot of spy satellites, and most are used for military support. China is already researching anti-satellite weapons, and most other advanced nations keen on a strong military are sure to follow. The moon is also rich in Helium-3, which many researchers believe holds the key to clean fusion, which makes it very desirable, something worth fighting and researching weapons for.

But, whenever it happens, it won’t be soon. Any projects picked up during this “March Storm” would probably take decades to put into practice. And while doubtful, there is always the slim possibility that it just won’t happen. Just look at how long the “Star Wars” project has been kicked around, all without anything practical coming out of it.