MILITARY INTERESTS IN OUTER SPACE
Defensive Brief for the Defence Debate
1. General Background
Last May the Chiefs of Staff endorsed a report by the Defence Research Policy Committee which considered the possibilities which lay in space research. Briefly it was concluded:
(i) There could be little doubt that space offered a fruitful field for scientific study, and the probability of some improved military and civil applications in the foreseeable future.
(ii) Beyond this there was the chance that results of more far reaching significance would come to light, although what they might be only time could tell.
(iii) There might be great possibilities of international co-operation in space research.
(iv) A substantial portion of opinion was that a modest contribution to space research by the U.K. was justified on scientific grounds and because of the known military and civil applications.
2. Military Applications The main military applications arising from space research are as follows:
(i) Long-Range Communications. Present day long-range communications are carried out by cable and high frequency radio. For various reasons the capacity of these media is limited and, moreover, they are vulnerable to disruption. A satellite system could well provide the most reliable means of long distance communications in war. Such a system, although no doubt presenting its own difficulties, would not be subject to limitations of existing systems and would offer the best possibility of establishing long-range communications with greater availability and reliability, little dependent on territorial ownership problems, and with a capacity comparable to that of most modern cable techniques.
(ii) Reconnaissance.
In view of the paucity of information about large areas of Russia and China, the intelligence which a satellite of even a limited resolution performance might collect would be of great value.
(iii) Signal Interception. Existing equipment is incapable of intercepting enemy communications electronic transmission originating in large areas of Russia and China. The monitoring of some of these signals by an orbiting satellite appears feasible and might be of value to intelligence staffs.
(iv) Meteorology. A satellite observing the earth's atmosphere from the outside could be expected to collect data which would permit improvements to be made in short term meteorological forecasting and may be a step towards long term forecasting.
(v) Navigation. A satellite orbiting at known times, and capable of being tracked by radio methods, offers a more reliable system of navigation than does the current astronomical method, which is subject to interruption by bad weather. It may be important for checking the other navigational aids of Polaris submarines.
(vi) Early Warning Systems. A potentially wide field exists for the development of satellites as part of early warning systems. The Americans have already made great strides in this respect by the advanced stage reached in the development of their satellites MIDAS and SAMOS.
(vii) Other Applications. The applications which have already been noted are believed to be the most practicable at present. Various others have been put forward including surveying satellites, satellites for research in aid of the development of a defence against ballistic missiles, manned satellites for unspecified purposes, and satellites for the delivery of weapons. While none of these uses can be finally ruled out there are doubts as to their importance and/or feasibility within the next decade or two. Monitoring satellites to detect variations in radio activity at high altitudes would have value in controlling any agreement on the cessation of nuclear testing.
3. General Considerations
The preceding paragraphs show that while there are important military applications (as well as civil) to be derived from space research and while earth satellites offer the opportunity for expanding man's knowledge of the universe, no single application taken in isolation would justify by itself a large expenditure of resources on spac research. However, even if, after all the foreseeable efforts of space research are taken together, doubts still exist about the desirability of initiating a comprehensive space programme there are at least two other less tangible factors to be entered into the assessment.
First, it would be contrary to all human experience if the opening of a new field of endeavour did not lead to results of social, economic or military importance. Secondly, it is very likely true that rocket and satellite developments not only give considerable assistance to governmental intramural research programmes but also stimulate advances in engineering instrumentation and other techniques which are of value to other industries. For example, while it is not possible to assess the contribution BLUE STREAK has made in this direction, work on the project has certainly resulted in improvements of varying degree in the fields of miniaturisation, servo-mechanism design, metallurgical techniques and precision engineering which are benefits secondary to the primary purpose of the project.
4. Definition of Outer Space
It is perhaps an under-statement to say that this is a difficult subject, which, although it has important defence implications, you should try to avoid discussing in the House. It can best be described as being in a state of suspended animation at the moment. Briefly howevery our position rests on an understanding with the Americans that for the time being, we shall both do what we can to avoid a definition of the upper limits of air space in which nations have territorial sovereignty This may not be easy, because any day the Americans may be asked where their satellite SAMOS is orbiting. Somewhat reluctantly we have that they will have no option, if pressed, but to say that it is in outer space. By implication they will then have admitted that outer space begins at least as low as SAMOS is orbiting.
5. The Americans have taken the line that agreement to restrict space to peaceful uses can have "full effect" only as part of a comprehensive disarmament agreement. The U.K. line has been, and still is, that we would accept no restrictions at all except as part of a comprehensive disarmament agreement. We are not certain that a claim that SAMOS and other satellites did not infringe a "peaceful uses" doctrine would be successful. There are likely to be further discussions with the Americans.
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