Technologies to Support Potential Space Weapons Receive Continued Funding

22 February 2007

The Pentagon's fiscal year 2008 budget request funds slightly more than $1 billion in programs that could provide anti-satellite and space-based weapons capabilities, according to a new analysis by the Center for Defense Information (CDI).

For Immediate Release: Feb. 22, 2007
Contact: Suzanne Ostrofsky, 202-797-5273,

WASHINGTON, DC -- In the absence of a clear national strategy to secure the future use of space, the development and testing of such technologies and the deployment of dual-use capabilities without rules of the road for their operations will threaten other nations and drive U.S. policy toward space weaponization.

According to CDI Director Theresa Hitchens, one of the report's authors, "Congress must become more aware of these efforts, and ensure that such programs do not go forward without in-depth scrutiny of their purposes and possible long-term impacts on U.S. space security."

Hitchens, along with Victoria Samson, CDI research analyst, and Sam Black, CDI research assistant, have combed through the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency's budget requests and highlighted programs which merit further examination.  Of most concern are the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Space Test Bed, the Air Force's Experimental Satellite Series (XSS) and Autonomous Nanosatellite Guardian for Evaluating Local Space (ANGELS), and the Starfire Optical Range laser facility. The complete analysis is attached and available at:

http://www.cdi.org/PDFs/Space Weapons Spending in the FY 2008 Defense Budget.pdf (Note: Guide is in 11" x 17" format)

For further information or to request an interview with a CDI analyst:

Theresa Hitchens: , 202.797.5269
Victoria Samson: , 210.455.7838

About CDI and the World Security Institute:
The World Security Institute (WSI) is a global non-profit organization committed to independent research and journalism on global affairs.  The Center for Defense Information (CDI) is part of the World Security Institute, whose divisions include CDI, International Media, Azimuth Media and International Programs with offices in Brussels, Cairo and Moscow, and projects in Beijing.  CDI seeks to contribute alternative views on security to promote wide-ranging discourse and debate.  CDI educates the public and informs policy-makers about issues of security policy, strategy, operations, weapon systems and defense budgeting, and pursues creative solutions to the problems of today and tomorrow.  Please visit us on the web at: worldsecurityinstitute.org, or www.cdi.org.

# # #