Soviet year in space, 1989

The euphoria surrounding the maiden voyage of the Buran space shuttle seemed to evaporate in 1989, and the Soviet space programme entered a critical period of re-evaluation and self-criticism. Setbacks dogged the Mir, Phobos and other programmes, though there did not appear to be a launch failure throughout the year. Public debate was dominated by economic issues, though useful figures are hard to obtain.     

Changing structure of the Soviet space programme

Political and economic changes in the USSR are having a dramatic impact on the nature and direction of the Soviet space programme. This article describes the main elements of what can now be seen as a sprawling and fractured bureaucracy. Some voices within the USSR are calling for the creation of some kind of national space agency, but the forces making for further fragmentation seem stronger. Whatever the eventual outcome, new opportunities for international commercial contact are likely to arise.     

Soviet proposals on the militarization of space

The USSR has submitted several proposals to the United Nations in recent years which are aimed at avoiding the militarization of outer space. This article examines three of the proposals and evaluates them in the context of existing treaties, to see whether or not they could resolve the political and legal problems which might arise. The reactions of the United Nations General Assembly and individual nations are also considered. The author concludes that several questions regarding the military aspects of space activity are left unresolved by the Soviet proposals.     

Changing patterns of international cooperation in space: The Soviet factor

The new Soviet glasnost regarding international cooperation in space will clearly be one of several factors affecting traditional patterns of cooperation in the future. This article examines how the Soviet posture towards cooperation in international space ventures has changed, why the changes have occurred, and the probable consequences of those changes on traditional patterns of international cooperation in space.     

US—Soviet intergovernmental agreement on cooperative space activities : Should it be re-established?

Both political and scientific motives are involved in the possible re-establishment of the US-Soviet Intergovernmental Agreement on Space Cooperation. This article outlines the policy concerns which would have to be addressed in considering a new agreement, from issues of technology transfer and actual scientific benefits, to US political influence on Soviet policies. Some guidelines are offered for future cooperation, on the basis of past experience, and possible long-range cooperative projects are suggested.     

International space programmes and policies : N. Jasentuliyana and Ralph Chipman, eds North Holland, Amsterdam and New York, 1984, 552 pp, $65.00

The Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space ( 82) identified crucial problems and made recommendations on strategies for developing countries to bridge the gap with advanced nations in the area of space technology. This article addresses some issues which, although implicit in the Report, are not discussed in detail therein. The role of space science and related scientific research is particularly emphasized. Close attention is paid to the role of human factors, such as the motivation to conduct research, the motivation to engage in international cooperation, and the motivation to utilize and exploit space. Possible opportunities for space research for developing countries, as well as relevant issues concerning management of space, are briefly discussed.     

Arms control and disarmament in space: the rough road to Vienna 1984: Part I

This article examines the international legal and diplomatic questions relating to arms control and disarmament, focusing on space-based activities. These relate importantly to the development of anti-satellite satellites (ASATs) and ballistic missile defence systems (BMDs). Part I of the article examines the goal of ‘peaceful uses’ of outer space as elaborated in national policies and in international fora, the debate that has has taken place at the international level over the meaning and definition of peaceful purposes, legal manoeuvres, particularly in the UN, and US responses, and recent Soviet initiatives relating to space militarization. Part II will appear in the next issue, and will consider the US Presidential-Congressional dialogue on these questions and recent Presidential initiatives.     

Arms control and disarmament in space: the rough road to Vienna 1984 : Part II

This article continues a detailed examination of the international legal and diplomatic questions relating to arms control and disarmament, focusing on space-based activities. These are importantly concerned with the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) systems and ballistic missile defence (BMD). This part of the article considers the US Presidential-Congressional dialogue - particularly the ASAT testing issue - and Presidential initiatives vis-à-vis the USSR. An epilogue to the original paper considers the diplomatic moves and policy shifts which contributed to the January 1985 US-Soviet meeting and the agreement to begin bilateral negotiations to consider space and nuclear arms.     

The deontology of the conquest of space / de la deontologie de la conquete de l''espace: Proceedings from a conference, Casablanca, 1–4 march 1984 Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Rabat, Morocco, 1984, 178 pages

Professor Caesar Voûte reports on the 34th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, Björkliden, Sweden, 9–14 July 1984: ‘1984 and Beyond: Science, Security and Public Opinion’.     

Soviet launch failures reviewed

The USSR has always been reluctant to reveal details of failures in its space programme, and only a few failures have been annouced publically. Some official US sources list failures in the Soviet programme, although these official listings end in mid-1964. The aviation press often reports rumoured failures, and it is the job of an analyst to try and separate the wheat from the chaff.