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Outer Space - Commercial, Exploratory, Military

1. Our technological entrance into outer space happened after WWII, and Satellites became fundamental to the functioning of our society. Broadcast television, the internet, ATM machines, banking transfers, telephone service, credit card validation, weather prediction, terrestrial and oceanic mapping, atmospheric and natural disaster monitoring, urban planning and navigation - all rely on the use of satellites.

2. There are some 600 to 800 operational satellites currently in orbit; of which the majority were launched by the United States. Also, there are around 40,000 bits of debris circulating the Earth. The space environment is over-taxed by space pollution from orbital debris and saturation of radio-frequency. An international treaty for scheduling a launch, for tracking and for surveillance of space objects is imperative.

3. For years, space was a zone of cooperation as civil society and commercial industry increased their use and dependence on space systems. Despite tacit and expressed agreement among nations not to militarize space, the United States government, driven by its mistrust of international treaties, pursues the militarization path. In effect, it has become the threat it feared from others.

4. The line between land-based and space-based weapons has faded from sight as the US Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency researched and developed space-weapon technologies. These weapons, launched from land or space, target orbiting assets or other space weapons enable the US to cope with any threat to our nation or to our foreign bases and allies.

5. While multiple efforts have been made to hold conventions, and forums to ban space weapons, and to build trust among nations, they are futile without US agreement. The US is expanding its space power.

6. The Green Party opposes all forms of militarization of space. We oppose researching, testing and deploying anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) from the land or the air. We oppose the development and basing of interceptor missiles in the US or other countries; we oppose debris-creating weapons. In effect, we demand that the US return to the conference table and create an international treaty that totally reverses the militarization of space.