The topic is hard to discuss as I am not a professional in the realm of science or the army, however, I think that I need to express my opinion on this, as it is connected to all of us. We all need to uphold our position strongly condemning further armament the planet’s orbit, and outer space in the future. Recently, the UN Security Council gathered around this development, urging all countries to accede to the prohibition of stationing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction into the Earth’s orbit. The wording should be clear, with no vagueness.
And the idea is great. I am sure that all civilians around the world would rather prefer to live without a nuclear weapon above their heads. Yes, it is in orbit, but it is not as far from the Earth’s surface as you might think. 400 kilometers or more would be the distance between your house and a mass destruction missile. This fact is awakening and scary. So, the proliferation of such weaponry should be banned as soon as possible before some satellite filled with radioactive materials accidentally falls into your neighborhood or directly to some school. It would be a catastrophe!
But the keyword was “civilians”. Army representatives think differently. Their job is to defend the country they’re serving for. And, if the rival country has such opportunities in space, I am sure that they immediately mount similar or even stronger weapons too. To be honest, it is understandable. We all want to be protected from threats. We do not want to constantly deem the possibility of getting wiped out instantly by a laser or nuke falling from the skies. It is not my job to think about it, we all would say. Yes, it is not. We have entrusted our safety to soldiers and the army, and should not be surprised by their actions.
But is it possible for nations to join or respect the treaty signed in 1967, which urges everyone to keep the space “clean” from mass destruction weapons? The question is hard to answer, and I don’t think that superpowers would adhere to the provisions of the agreement. Countries will always try to defend themselves and eliminate or at least weaken those who pose a threat to them. Let’s just hope that it will become a full-scale war, like in Star Wars. As said in the Security Council, it should be a sequel to a horrible movie, it is our life, and we want it to be peaceful.
Based on:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/us-japan-nuclear-weapons-ban-space-un-war
