BACKGROUND: Accompanying Trump's expansion of resources for the military has been increasing pressure to include space based nuclear weapons in the US arsenal. For several reasons this would be a terrible idea:
- It would be seen as a direct threat to other nations.
- It would violate the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
- It would lead to a new arms race—particularly in space.
- Detonating a nuclear weapon in space would damage or destroy satellites of every nation and could have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for Earth's atmosphere and environment.
116 countries are Parties to the Outer Space Treaty which lays the foundation for international space law and aims to ensure peaceful activities in outer space. It specifically prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit around the Earth, on celestial bodies, or in outer space in any other manner.
ACTION: Our 2020 contacts in Washington suggest there is skepticism among Democrats and some Republicans about space-based nuclear weapons. Efforts to block such weapons may take place in the Senate this July. Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose space-based nuclear weapons. If you imagine they are already sympathetic, write instead to the two Senators most critical to the effort: Sen. Angus King, (I-ME), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
CONTACT: Your Senators
- Web: senate.gov leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
- Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
- Mail: Senator (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
Note: Below is a sample Letter-to-the-Editor that you can copy, personalize, and upload to your newspaper’s website. This is a great way to educate and engage more people on this issue.
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR (206 words)
No Nuclear Weapons in Space!
Accompanying Trump's expansion of resources for the military has been increasing pressure to include space based nuclear weapons in the US arsenal. For several reasons this would be a terrible idea:
- It would be seen as a direct threat to other nations.
- It would violate the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
- It would lead to a new arms race—particularly in space.
- Detonating a nuclear weapon in space would damage or destroy satellites of every nation and could have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for Earth's atmosphere and environment.
116 countries are Parties to the Outer Space Treaty. It lays the foundation for international space law and aims to ensure peaceful activities in outer space. It specifically prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit around the Earth, on celestial bodies, or in outer space in any other manner.
There is skepticism among Democrats and some Republicans about space-based nuclear weapons. Efforts to block such weapons may take place in the Senate this July. Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose space-based nuclear weapons. If you imagine they are already sympathetic, write instead to the two Senators most critical to the effort: Sen. Angus King, (I-ME), and Chris Coons (D-DE).