Title: A resolution expressing support for the draft United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling upon member states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests, introduced by the United States at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution supports a United Nations resolution and related efforts to halt the use of destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 864 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 864

   Expressing support for the draft United Nations General Assembly 
 Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling upon member states to commit not to 
    conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests, 
   introduced by the United States at the 77th Session of the United 
                       Nations General Assembly.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 8, 2022

  Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
 King, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Markey, and Mrs. Murray) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for the draft United Nations General Assembly 
 Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling upon member states to commit not to 
    conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests, 
   introduced by the United States at the 77th Session of the United 
                       Nations General Assembly.

Whereas the United States is joined by countries around the world in relying on 
        Earth-orbiting satellites for--

    (1) navigation;

    (2) communications;

    (3) financial transactions;

    (4) media broadcasting;

    (5) agriculture;

    (6) detection and surveillance of threats and disasters;

    (7) scientific research; and

    (8) monitoring and forecasting of environmental parameters, including--

    G    (A) weather;

    G    (B) ocean conditions; and

    G    (C) vegetation health;

Whereas the United States is tracking more than 47,000 objects orbiting the 
        Earth that are larger than 10 centimeters, an increase of 47 percent 
        since January 2021, and further estimates a population of more than 
        100,000,000 objects larger than 1 millimeter orbiting the Earth;
Whereas orbital maneuvering to avoid collisions consumes onboard propellant and 
        shortens the lifespans of spacecraft missions;
Whereas the proliferation of satellites and debris orbiting the Earth results in 
        millions of potential collision warnings issued by the United States 
        Space Command each year, while satellites and debris are expected to 
        continue increasing exponentially;
Whereas destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests create large and 
        dispersed orbiting debris fields that deny satellites access to needed 
        orbital space and threaten to inadvertently destroy other satellites and 
        spacecraft for decades after such tests;
Whereas a destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test conducted by the 
        Russian Federation on November 15, 2021, long after the dangers of 
        orbital debris became well known, produced more than 1,500 pieces of 
        identifiable debris and threatened the safety of astronauts and 
        cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station;
Whereas a destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test conducted by the 
        People's Republic of China on January 11, 2007, created at least 3,400 
        pieces of debris, of which 79 percent is predicted to be in orbit 100 
        years after the event;
Whereas the United States adopted a voluntary moratorium on the destructive 
        testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems in April 2022;
Whereas methods other than destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite tests are 
        available to test defense capabilities;
Whereas the international community has previously banned destructive activities 
        in space, including the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons;
Whereas, during a meeting of the Disarmament and International Security 
        Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the United States 
        introduced draft UN General Assembly Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling 
        upon member states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-ascent 
        anti-satellite missile tests;
Whereas, on November 1, 2022, the Disarmament and International Security 
        Committee approved the draft resolution by a vote of 154 to 8, 
        demonstrating broad international support for the efforts of the United 
        States and sending it to the UN General Assembly for consideration; and
Whereas 8 countries have followed the example of the United States and committed 
        not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing, 
        including--

    (1) Canada in May 2022;

    (2) New Zealand in July 2022;

    (3) Germany in September 2022;

    (4) Japan in September 2022;

    (5) the United Kingdom in October 2022;

    (6) South Korea in October 2022;

    (7) Switzerland in October 2022;

    (8) Australia in October 2022; and

    (9) France in December 2022: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses support for--
                    (A) the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 
                introduced by the United States to call upon member 
                states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-
                ascent anti-satellite missile tests; and
                    (B) the commitment of the United States to the 
                peaceful and safe use of outer space;
            (2) recognizes Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the 
        United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, and France 
        for following the United States in pledging to not conduct 
        destructive direct-assent anti-satellite missile tests; and
            (3) calls on other nations, particularly nations with 
        significant assets in space and that have previously tested 
        destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles and nations 
        that recognize the indispensable benefits provided by space 
        capabilities, to join the United States in adopting a voluntary 
        moratorium on the destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-
        satellite missile systems.
                                 <all>