“At the Wandenberg Space Force Base in California, Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that the United States is committed to not conducting destructive tests of satellite missiles (ASAT), and that the United States seeks to establish this as a new international norm. “The Vice President also called on other nations to commit to similar commitments and to work together to establish this as the norm,” the White House said in a statement.
“At the first Biden-Harris National Space Council meeting last December, Vice President Harris instructed National Security Council staff to work with the Department of Defense, State Department and other national security agencies to develop proposals for national security norms that advance U.S. interests and safeguard security and sustainability. “Space space. The commitment made is the first initiative in this effort. The United States is the first nation to declare such a commitment.”
The White House adds that this commitment addresses one of the most pressing threats to space security and sustainability, as demonstrated by Russia’s ASAT missile test in November 2021. The People’s Republic of China conducted a similar test in 2007.
“The long-lived waste generated by these experiments now threatens satellites and other space objects essential to the security, economic and scientific interests of all nations, and increases the risk to astronauts in space,” the publication said.
“A confrontation or confrontation in outer space is not inevitable, and the United States strives to ensure that outer space remains free of conflict. The Biden-Harris administration has made it clear that the United States will intervene with the international community to maintain and strengthen an international order-based space.
“The United States, working with commercial industry, allies and partners, will lead in the development of new measures that contribute to the safety, stability, security and long-term sustainability of space operations. Overall, through this new commitment and other actions, the United States will demonstrate how to conduct space activities responsibly, peacefully and sustainably. ”