US Announces Self-Imposed Ban on Anti-Satellite Missile Tests

Photo Credit: 1. U.S. Navy  / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain 2. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images
Photo Credit: 1. U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain 2. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images

The Biden administration has announced it will self-impose a ban on the testing of anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) by the United States, with the aim of establishing new norms and guidelines for military action in space.

Inert ASM-135 ASAT missile on display
Inert ASM-135 ASAT missile on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. (Photo Credit: Balon Greyjoy / Wikimedia Commons CC0)

Word of the self-imposed ban comes after US criticism of ASAT tests by China and Russia, including the November 2021 launch of an anti-satellite missile by Russia to destroy a defunct Soviet-era satellite. The launch resulted in the spread of a field of debris that put both the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong space station at risk.

China did a similar test in 2007. The US, Russia, China and India have conducted over a dozen anti-satellite tests since the 1960s, according the non-governmental organization Secure World Foundation. The US last destroyed one of its own satellites in 2008, when the Navy launched a modified SM-3 missile at the malfunctioning National Reconnaissance Office’s USA-193 satellite.

International Space Station orbiting over the Earth
International Space Station. (Photo Credit: NASA / Getty Images)

The weapon the Biden administration is committing to stop testing relies on interceptor missiles that are launched from the Earth’s surface to strike target satellites hundreds of miles into space.

“The destruction of space objects through direct-ascent ASAT missile testing is reckless and irresponsible,” said the White House in a statement. “The long-lived debris created by these tests now threaten satellites and other space objects that are vital to all nations’ security, economic and scientific interests, and increases risk to astronauts in space.

“Overall, these tests jeopardized the long-term sustainability of outer space and imperil the exploration and use of space by all nations.”

Kamala Harris speaking at a podium
US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks to members of Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 18, 2022. Harris delivered the remarks after meeting with members of the US Space Force and US Space Command as part of her duties as chair of the National Space Council. (Photo Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The barring of the use of ASAT weapons testing was further explained by Vice President Kamala Harris during a speech from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California on April 18, 2022, in which she explained that such tests are dangerous. She also added that the US was the first country to make a commitment to stop conducting them.

Harris, who is the chair of the White House National Space Council, first began preparing for the ban in December, when she said the White House National Security Council would work with the State Department, the Pentagon and other national security agencies to develop proposals for national security space norms.

“This new commitment also protects US interests in space,” the White House’s statement added. “Meaningfully reducing ASAT testing and debris generation advances US national security interests and protects long-term US interests in space exploration, space science and space-enabled economic development.”

SM-3 missile being launched
SM-3 missile launched to intercept USA-193, 2008. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Vice President Harris hopes other countries will quickly follow suit.

Clare Fitzgerald

Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime.

Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordan’s Seriously Mysterious podcast. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine.

In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. She’ll also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance.

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