Space Warfare and Defense - A Historical Encyclopedia and Research Guide (Electronic book text)

This timely resource provides a history of the development of space weapons and warfare strategies and a comprehensive reference guide to the growing literature on the subject.Star wars, Global positioning satellites, Space-based laser weapons, were once the realm of science fiction, space weapons and warfare are coming closer to reality. Ninety percent of U.S. military communications depend on space assets, marking an increasing reliance on space for national security initiatives, military operations, and e-commerce enabled by satellite technology. What does the future hold for this new arena of military conflict?"Space Warfare and Defense: A Historical Encyclopedia and Research Guide" provides comprehensive coverage of the development of space as a possible arena for warfare, exploring the military uses of space - past, present, and future - and specific details of actual space weapons systems.The encyclopedia spans the breadth of U.S. military space policy; comparable programs in the Soviet Union, China, and the European Union; and the full array of international agreements designed to regulate the military uses of space. In addition, the encyclopedia includes an extensive reference guide (nearly 40 percent of the book) directing readers to the essential literature on space weapons and defense systems produced by the United States, other governments, research institutions, and additional sources. At a time when space is becoming an increasingly important place of military competition and potential conflict, "Space Warfare and Defense" dispels the myths and examines the realities of what may become humanity's ultimate battlefield.