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U.S. Won't Sign EU Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
January 16, 2012
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US won’t sign EU space treaty, The Hill
A senior State Department official said Thursday that the United States will not sign onto a European code of conduct treaty laying out rules in outer space. Ellen Tauscher, the State Department’s undersecretary for arms control and international security, said the rules the EU has currently proposed were “too restrictive” for the United States to agree to.
U.S. Rejects Current Draft of EU Code of Conduct; considers another agreement, Examiner
In a surprising turn of events, it was announced that the U.S. will not be signing onto the current draft of the proposed EU Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. Citing that the current draft as worded is too restrictive, Ellen Tauscher, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said during a January 12th breakfast that it was clear from the beginning that the Administration was not going along with the Code. While the current draft has not been rejected outright, according to another government official the Code could be used as a basis for another international agreement.
New space-arms control initiative draws concern, Washington Times
“The Obama administration is launching a new space arms-control initiative that critics say will lead to restrictions on U.S. military activities in space, a key U.S. strategic war-fighting advantage. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to announce the initiative as early as Tuesday. The plan will be built on work contained in a European Union draft code of conduct for space that the Pentagon and State Department have criticized as too restrictive.”

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6 responses to “U.S. Won't Sign EU Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities”

  1. no one of consequence says:
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    Likely doctrinal dispute over who has the right to take action.

    • Anonymous says:
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      Lots more to it. 

      • no one of consequence says:
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        Of course – some amusing. But the core issue is doctrine.

        • Daniel Woodard says:
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          The Code of Conduct asks signers to be considerate of others and not blow up satellites and create space junk that other spacecraft might run into. Not good if you enjoy setting off cherry bombs under the neighbor’s cat.

          • Anonymous says:
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            No, it actually acts to constrain what types of spacecraft you can build and fly because of an arbitrary definition of spacecraft capability.  It will limit spacecraft such as on orbit servicers because of their dual use potential.  

            The flaw in this logic is that any spacecraft with a propulsion system is a threat to other spacecraft and to place limits on high delta V or systems with advanced manipulation capabilities is simply wrong headed.

  2. Ralphy999 says:
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    Most likely because the US Congress will stomp all over it with their Allen Edmunds wing tip brogans. The kind with metal heel caps that clicks when they walk and strikes sparks at night.