Space Weapon

There is no universally accepted definition of the term ‘space weapon’. Generally this term is used to refer to a capability or system used to deny, disrupt, degrade, damage or destroy or otherwise harm a system, infrastructure, person or group of people. Some consider that in order for a weapon to be classed as a space weapon, it has to be located in space, whereas others include non-space-based objects that can target space infrastructure. Moreover, there are some that consider that space weapons are those that target space systems, including the ground and link segments, as well as objects on the ground, sea or air.

There are certain States that have sought to establish a definition by which a space weapon is any outer space object or its component produced or converted to eliminate, damage or disrupt normal functioning of objects in outer space, on the Earth’s surface or in the air, as well as to eliminate population, components of biosphere important to human existence, or to inflict damage to them by using any principles of physics. Others have criticized this definition as it does not include (i) objects not in space but which can be directed towards it to harm technology therein, and (ii) does not take into account that in some cases objects are capability-neutral and the intent of the actor is what determines whether they are used to harm another’s space object or disrupt their space activities. This is the case of dual-purpose objects.