The Militarization of Space

Library Journal

In this substantial, detailed, and scholarly study, Stares documents how the use of space has been an important part of military policy since the end of World War II. Satellites have come to perform the critical military tasks in the realm of reconnaissance and communications. However, U.S. (and Soviet) policy throughout the satellite era has not included deploying them in space, though weapons have been tested. The Reagan administration's policy appears aimed at extending the arms race to space with antisatellite weapons and space-based ballistic missile defense. Stares offers some suggestions on the possibility of arms control agreements to keep space free of weapons, but he is not optimistic. An excellent analysis of a serious topic. Richard B. Finnegan, Political Science Dept., Stonehill Coll., Easton, Mass.