Abstract
This paper examines the nearly seven decades of attempts to adopt multilateral rules restricting space arms race and limit military uses of outer space. The paper presents the early success to introduce, as part of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, basic key limitations, notably a ban on weapons of mass destruction and offensive military uses of celestial bodies, and the subsequent failure to expand these basic rules. Indeed, despite forty-five years since the early 1980s of work in various streams and frameworks attempting to prevent a space arms race, and despite many countries’ proclamations supporting space arms control, no meaningful progress was made. Moreover, analyzing the underlying reasons suggests that space is particularly difficult to regulate and the obstacles unique to space arms control are difficult to overcome. Furthermore, it seems that the three major space powers lack the interest or political will to agree on meaningful space arms control. Finally, as arms control in general is in retreat, the unavoidable conclusion is that attempts at space arms control have little prospect unless and until a major change in circumstances occurs. In fact, a space arms race is already well underway.
Recommended Citation
Eytan Tepper & James B. Romano,
A Farewell to Space Arms Control,
70
St. Louis U. L.J.
(2026).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.slu.edu/lj/vol70/iss2/8