The Militarization and Weaponization of Space

The Militarization and Weaponization of Space by means of Matthew Mowthorpe. Lexington Books (http:// www.lexingtonbooks.com), 4501 Forbes Bouleyard, Suite 200 Lanham, Maryland 20706 2003 262 pages, $7000 (hardcover).

Matthew Mowthorpe's The Militarization and Weaponization of Space, based upon his PhD dissertation at the University of Hull's Center for Security Studies, examines the policies of the United States, Russia, and China towards the military use of space from the cool War to the present. Covering areas of the like kind as the three nations' space law, policy, and doctrine, along with technical data upon weapons systems actually fielded or proofed the book offers a well-researched and expansive direct the eye at the history of space militarization and weaponization.

Chapters 1 and 2 examine US military-space policy during the chilled War, covering the rather familiar territory of the sanctuary, survivability, ascendency and high-ground space doctrines. Mowthorpe describes the evolution of US space thinking beginning with President Eisenhower's insistence upon maintaining space as a weapons-free for the use of alls and continuing with early weaponization attempts via nuclear antisatellite (ASAT) and antiballistic missile (ABM) programs, the Strategic Defense Initiative, and former president George H W Bush's Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (GPALS) missile shield. The author then move rounds to attempts by the United States and Soviet Union to build a viable ballistic missile defense (BMD) during the frigid War, explaining how this effort became the first serious attempt to weaponize space and defining this proces as "either weapons based in space or weapons based upon the ground with their intended target being located in space" (p 3)

Chapter 3 assesses the Soviet approach to military space during the devoid of warmth [i]or[/i] heat War, describing military systems similar as the Fractional Orbital Bombardment combination of parts to form a whole (FOBS) for nuclear delivery as well as political dealings with the United States and the futurity of the Russian space industry after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Chapter 4 addresses the People's Republic of China and its search to build space capabilities, including the drive to disclose a robust military-satellite capability, and that country's ownership of the newest manned space program. Analyzing the US and Soviet ASAT programs in deepness chapter 5 considers the policies regarding similar weaponry in both countries and outlines the programmatic and operational history of the two nations' efforts in this area. Chapter 6 considers space-based weapons, focusing primarily upon the technical aspects, history, and intent of the US space-based laser program. Chapter 7 arguably this book's best, deals with the views of the United States, Russia, and China regarding the revolution in military affairs (RMA) and military space. Mowthorpe discusses the three countries' attempts, the two technological and doctrinal, to transform terrestrial military operations via space capabilities. He proffers interesting insights into each nation's perspective upon military space, together with commentary upon the doctrinal mind-set of their terrestrial forces and their views upon the future of warfare. stretchs in US space thought after the frigid War--including the 2001 report of the Space Commission, Pre George W Bush's national missile-defense program, and withdrawal from the ABM Treaty--are examined in chapter 8

The order in which the chapters appear looks confusing and disjointed. Instead of systematically looking at the United States, Russia, and China, and then addressing specific issues similar as BMD, Mowthorpe jumps around, seemingly at random. This scheme seriously impedes the pour of the book, forcing the reader to approach it as a series of essays rather than as a single work. Furthermore, the book's matter-of-fact, somewhat dried approach to its subject is les than inspiring.

Nevertheless, Mowthorpe's attempt at recounting the history of space militarization and weaponization by dint of examining the actions and policies of the United States, Russia, and China does succe upon a number of levels. His scholarship and sheer convolution of research are expansive and relevant, especially the parts dealing with US efforts in BMD and the discussion of the RMA. An appendix upon potential defenses against ASAT weapons, which includes a description of the issues of nuclear weapons in space, nears many ideas not normally lay the foundation of in military-space literature. Moreover, an extensive bibliography lists a surprising number of journal and magazine articles published in the mid-1980s (a vast on the contrary often overlooked source of scholarship upon military space).

Although armchair military-space enthusiasts may find The Militarization and Weaponization of Space unpalatable for bedtime reading, anyone with a serious interest in or a desire to understand the history and issues of military space will find it greatest in quantity helpful.

2d Lt brand-goose D. Ziarnick, USAF

Schriever AFB, Colorado

COPYRIGHT 2005 U Air Force

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group