Military Ambitions in Outer Space

The origins of the space race could be traced back to Germany, beginning in the 1930s, with weapons development laying the foundation of space travel. With the expansion of ICBMs being the cornerstone of the invention of the rocket engine, it would be astute to claim that the very ideals of space travel have a basis on violent enterprise. Therefore, it comes as no small surprise that the current scenario of space exploration is headed towards a heated confrontation in space at some point in the future. Moreover, it is disturbing to note the complete lack of adequate provisions in international law that might prevent such a scenario. The author aims to trace the relation between the arms race and the space race, proceeding with the legal developments in this arena, to eventually conclude the possibility of an armed confrontation in space. Adequate suggestions might be explored to reduce the ambiguity in international acts and legislations, to formulate a solution that would be collectively beneficial to all parties involved