Spacedebate.org -- a new effort to expand the debate on the weaponization of space through a collaborative wiki-like tool for structured debate on a topic -- launched recently. The project is modeled after Wikipedia, but instead of focusing on developing an encyclopedia it invites users to help edit and expand an 'argument tree' that reflects the various positions in the debate over U.S. military space policy. Users can browse the argument tree or an extensive database of resources, including links to relevant news articles, authoritative quotes, and a comprehensive bibliography of sources.
Joel Primack cautions that testing space weapons could exacerbate the space debris problem and a space war could "encase the entire planet in a shell of whizzing debris that would thereafter make space near the Earth highly hazardous for peaceful as well as military purposes."
Astronaut Sally Ride argues that U.S. plans to develop space weapons risk space exploration efforts because weapons testing would dramatically increase space debris.
Scientists warn that U.S. plans to deploy space based weapons and space based missile defense could create enough space debris to trap humans on earth indefinitely.
Space-based missile defences could result in swarms of dangerous debris that make low-Earth orbits permanently unusable, a prominent US astronomer has warned.
Astronaut Sally Ride gave a lecture at Stanford on Space and National Security and the perils of space debris from anti-satellite warfare testing.
Charles Pena and Edward Hudgins argue against the military's plans to weaponize space and urge the U.S. to place more of an emphasis on expanding commercial opportunities in outer space.
Karl Grossman critiques the efforts by the military and private companies to dominate and control outer space.