Avoiding an unintentional space war: Lessons from Cold War nuclear diplomacy. (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simon, Maxwell; Wilson, Sam
• Is Part Of: Bulletin of the atomic scientists. Volume 77:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Space-based weapons -- space command -- nuclear diplomacy -- Cold War -- escalation; confidence-building measures -- outer space security -- nuclear weapons; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear energy -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Nuclear energy -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Nuclear weapons -- Periodicals; Nuclear weapons -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Nuclear arms control -- Periodicals; 363.1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00963402.2021.1912243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0096-3402

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The realm of outer space is becoming increasingly crowded and more contested – conditions that increase the risk that a conflict could arise. Given that there has never been a war in space, countries have little experience to draw upon to predict what behavior might motivate a potential competitor to respond with threatening actions – and how quickly and in what manner those actions could escalate to a full-blown conflict. To help control this situation, we may want to take a look at what was done during the Cold War, when concerns about unintentional escalation focused on nuclear weapons.