Source: United States Senator for California – Dianne Feinstein
Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Ted Lieu (both D-Calif.) today introduced a resolution supporting the Biden administration’s efforts to establish a global moratorium on destructive anti-satellite missile tests.
The Department of Defense currently tracks more than 47,000 objects in space larger than 10 cm, including debris from anti-satellite missile tests, which can harm vital assets in orbit. The amount of debris has increased by nearly 50 percent since January 2021 and is expected to continue rising as governments launch more satellites and conduct harmful anti-satellite missile tests.
“Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space debris that threaten astronauts and satellites that provide vital services,” said Senator Feinstein. “Our resolution supports the Biden administration’s efforts at the United Nations to ban these dangerous anti-satellite missile tests worldwide and encourages more nations to adopt similar moratoriums.”
“As we continue to expand our commercial, scientific and defense efforts in space, we need to ensure we’re being responsible stewards of the ‘final frontier,’” said Representative Lieu. “As Co-Chair of the California Aerospace Caucus, I am honored that in my district I have the Space Systems Command, where the U.S. Military manages its awesome space programs. The United States has a responsibility as a leader in space technology to curb anti-satellite (ASAT) missile tests because they can create massive debris fields in space that threaten the safety of astronauts and other satellites. I’m pleased the U.S. and other United Nations countries have committed to stop conducting ASAT missile tests. I urge more countries to do the same. I’m pleased to join Senator Feinstein in introducing this congressional resolution, which calls for an end to destructive ASAT testing around the world.”
In the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
Full text of the resolution is available here and below:
Whereas the United States is joined by countries around the world in relying on Earth-orbiting satellites for—
(1) navigation;
(2) communications;
(3) financial transactions;
(4) media broadcasting;
(5) agriculture;
(6) detection and surveillance of threats and disasters;
(7) scientific research; and
(8) monitoring and forecasting of environmental parameters, including—
(A) weather;
(B) ocean conditions; and
Whereas the United States is tracking more than 47,000 objects orbiting the Earth that are larger than 10 centimeters, an increase of 47 percent since January 2021, and further estimates a population of more than 100,000,000 objects larger than 1 millimeter orbiting the Earth;
Whereas orbital maneuvering to avoid collisions consumes onboard propellant and shortens the lifespans of spacecraft missions;
Whereas the proliferation of satellites and debris orbiting the Earth results in millions of potential collision warnings issued by the United States Space Command each year, while satellites and debris are expected to continue increasing exponentially;
Whereas destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests create large and dispersed orbiting debris fields that deny satellites access to needed orbital space and threaten to inadvertently destroy other satellites and spacecraft for decades after such tests;
Whereas a destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test conducted by the Russian Federation on November 15, 2021, long after the dangers of orbital debris became well known, produced more than 1,500 pieces of identifiable debris and threatened the safety of astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station;
Whereas a destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test conducted by the People’s Republic of China on January 11, 2007, created at least 3,400 pieces of debris, of which 79 percent is predicted to be in orbit 100 years after the event;
Whereas the United States adopted a voluntary moratorium on the destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems in April 2022;
Whereas methods other than destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite tests are available to test defense capabilities;
Whereas the international community has previously banned destructive activities in space, including the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons;
Whereas, during a meeting of the Disarmament and International Security Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the United States introduced draft UN General Assembly Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling upon member states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests;
Whereas, on November 1, 2022, the Disarmament and International Security Committee approved the draft resolution by a vote of 154 to 8, demonstrating broad international support for the efforts of the United States and sending it to the UN General Assembly for consideration; and
Whereas 8 countries have followed the example of the United States and committed not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing, including—
(1) Canada in May 2022;
(2) New Zealand in July 2022;
(3) Germany in September 2022;
(4) Japan in September 2022;
(5) the United Kingdom in October 2022;
(6) South Korea in October 2022;
(7) Switzerland in October 2022;
(8) Australia in October 2022; and
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) expresses support for—
(A) the United Nations General Assembly Resolution introduced by the United States to call upon member states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests; and
(B) the commitment of the United States to the peaceful and safe use of outer space;
(2) recognizes Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, and France for following the United States in pledging to not conduct destructive direct-assent anti-satellite missile tests; and
(3) calls on other nations, particularly nations with significant assets in space and that have previously tested destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles and nations that recognize the indispensable benefits provided by space capabilities, to join the United States in adopting a voluntary moratorium on the destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems.
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