The United States federal government should pursue a defensive space control strategy that emphasizes satellite hardening, replacement, redundancy and situational awareness



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They Say “You only solve China”



[ ] Solving for Chinese counterspace capabilities deters other countries as well
Putnam, 2009 Maj. United States Air Force - Marine Corps Command and Staff College [Christopher, http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA510842&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf Countering the chinese threat to low earth orbit satellites: Building a defensive space strategyOMB No. 0704-0188
Additionally, the proposed defensive measures will do more than support deterrence against China. Numerous nations will seek to emulate Chinese actions with kinetic and nonkinetic options. In response to the recent anti-satellite activity of China and the United States, Russia announced the resumption of its anti-satellite weapons program. Ground-based actions such as jamming are within the realm of many nations and individuals. One only need look at the hijacking of the HBO satellite signal by "Capt Midnight" as an example of a single individual being able to steal a satellite transponder, in effect jamming the intended signal. 54 Further, proliferation of nuclear weapon and ballistic missile technology make the use of a HANE attractive to a rogue nation or terrorist nation that has little reliance on space capabilities. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency suggests this scenario as a possible last act of defiance by North Korean forces facing defeat,55 Lastly, these measures can be used to combat natural phenomena, such as a meteor shower or solar storms that can damage satellite systems. "A strategy that ensures access to and use of space is useful in times of peace just as in times of war, since space systems that provide critical services may fail or become inoperative in the absence of hostile action. 56

They Say “China only conducted One Test”



[ ] China has conducted multiple ASAT tests – they will continue
Ajey Lele, 2011 - a former Air Force Wing Commander, with a post graduate degree in Physics and Defence and Strategic Studies [Date used: June 24, 2011 http://www.indiandefencereview.com/military-&-space/Militarization-of-Space-.html Militarization of Space]
On the other hand, this Chinese act of destroying a satellite should not be considered as an one-off event. On 11 January 2007, they successfully carried out an anti-satellite (ASAT) test, but this was preceded by three earlier unsuccessful attempts. Their interests in the weaponisation of space has been known for some time. However, China had continuously talked about establishing an international structure for stopping the weaponisation of space over the last few years while assiduously working towards developing space weapons. According to a 2001 report, China had also ground tested an advanced anti-satellite weapon called ‘Parasitic Satellite’. It could be deployed on an experimental basis and enter the phase of space tests in the near future. This ASAT system can be used against many types of satellites in different orbits like communication satellites, navigational satellites, reconnaissance satellites and early warning satellites. According to a ‘Space Daily’ report this nanometer-sized “parasitic satellite” is designed to be deployed and attached to the enemy’s satellite. There are three components to the ASAT “parasitic” satellites system: a carrier (“mother”) satellite and launcher, and a ground control system. During conflict, commands are sent to this satellite to interfere or destroy the host satellite. The cost of building these satellites is 0.1 percent to 1 percent of any typical satellite. The January 2001, Donald Rumsfeld led Space Commission, had recommended that the military should “ensure that the President will have the option to deploy weapons in space”. It was reported by the media that in September 2006 Beijing had secretly used lasers to “paint” US spy satellites with the aim of “blinding” their sensitive surveillance devices to prevent spy photography as they pass over China. The Chinese aim was not to destroy the US satellites but to make them useless over Chinese territory. It has also been reported that the US military was so alarmed by this Chinese activity that it has begun to carry out test attacks against its own satellites to determine the dimensions of this threat.



***SOLVENCY MECHANISMS***




Hardening Solvency




[ ] Hardening satellites will increase our space security without causing an arms race, because it is defensive
Putnam, 2009 Maj. United States Air Force - Marine Corps Command and Staff College [Christopher, http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA510842&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf Countering the chinese threat to low earth orbit satellites: Building a defensive space strategyOMB No. 0704-0188
In response to the credible and expanding Chinese anti-satellite threat, the United States must adopt a defensive space strategy that can deter Chinese actions and then also recover from an attack. Some within the United States government, notably Senator Jon Kyl, have advocated an offensive deterrence strategy to counter the Chinese anti-satellite threat, creating weapons that would not only attack Chinese satellites but also anti-satellite systems. This policy, however, would in effect start a space arms race, a costly proposition with many high dollar systems competing for the defense budget. Offensive kinetic anti-satellite weapons, whether direct ascent or co-orbital, can create a significant debris field that could indiscriminately damage friendly satellites and ultimately hurt the United States more than China. The United States abandoned its Cold War kinetic anti-satellite program after a test where an F-15-launched missile destroyed a satellite and created a LEO debris field that took over 20 years to decay. However, the United States demonstrated its ability to rapidly reconstitute its direct ascent anti-satellite capability when it launched a modified Standard Missile-3 from the USS Lake Erie and destroyed a malfunctioning satellite before it could reenter and possibly impact a populated area.27 Although the United States engaged the satellite at the lower portion ofthe LEO regime to minimize orbital debris and provided timely notification to the international community, China criticized the operation as threatening to space security.28 This reaction supports the idea that pursuing an offensive anti-satellite program could drive a space arms race. Finally, in an anti-satellite exchange, China currently has much less to lose. China would be much less reliant on space systems to operate in a conflict.
[ ] Hardening can protect US satellites in a conflict with China, despite Chinese ASATs
Devan 2007 [Janadas Devan ,Senior writer, The Straits Times HOW impressive was the Chinese Asat weapon? February 2; Lexis Accessed June 21 ]
If the Chinese were to develop their Asat capacity, would the US military, heavily dependent on space, be severely crippled in the event of a US-China conflict? Not necessarily, say the experts. Firstly, the US can protect its satellites either by hardening them or by improving their manoeuvrability. But these steps would add considerably to their weight. Secondly, the US could surround its crucial satellites with 'bodyguards', as it were, to absorb the impact of an Asat weapon. But the debris from the exploding 'bodyguards' would pose a problem. A more workable solution would be for the US to accept the vulnerability of individual satellites and devise alternatives, say the experts. For example, in the event of a conflict, it could launch satellites in temporary near-space orbit - from 75km to 200km - to aid navigation and communications over specific battlefields (such as the Taiwan Strait). Or it could use high-altitude aircraft or balloons to relay communication s and to conduct surveillance. Given these possibilities, Dr Wright said he did not think the Chinese strategists thought Asat weapons would be militarily decisive. At best, the weapons can make 'nuisance attacks, buy time, cause confusion, but not that much more'. The Chinese missile test signals to the US that 'it is not going to get a free ride in space, but nobody in China thinks Asat weapons can dramatically change a military situation', said Dr Wright.




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