1. There is an ongoing debate on the issue of weaponizing space in order to protect our national space assets and achieve national strategic objectives. This is a problem because of the growing number of spacefaring nations attempting to exploit the advantages of space and other nations also attempting to develop capabilities to prevent others from using it. This reference document will present current international laws and policies, our national space policies, the current issues that have catalyzed this debate, the advantages and disadvantages of space weaponization.2. Space is also governed by rules and laws, just as we are on land and sea. The “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space” including the Moon and other celestial bodies", or commonly known as the Outer Space Treaty, was signed in 1966 by many countries, including the United States, and forms the basis of most international space laws and policies. Some key takeaways from this treaty in relation to the space weapons debate are: “(1) outer space is open to all nations for exploration and use; (2) nations cannot own any part of outer space; (3) outer space will be used for peaceful purposes; (4) Nations may not place, orbit, or station weapons of mass destruction in any form in space. (UNOOSA) These principles and laws are also mainly reflected in our country's space policy and our national security space strategy.3. Our National Space Policy (NSP) is derived from the vision and directives of the President. The NSP incorporates terms set forth in the Outer Space Treaty, along with two caveats: (1) deter, defend our nation's space assets, and "if deterrence fails, frustrate efforts to deter them." attack [enemy Capt Cho/SOS/Vol C-33 /3-6060/DBC/06 May 2011threats]” (DK, 3); (2) “collaborate with international partners to continue to promote the peaceful use of space”. (DK,4). Additionally, the NSP shapes the National Security Space Strategy (NSSS), which the Department of Defense uses to guide how the military develops and employs space capabilities.4. The NSSS describes some current trends in space as “congested and contested” (NSSS, 8), which shape our strategic space environment and fuel debates about space weapons. The "crowded" trend refers to "the current 60 nations and government consortia that own and operate satellites and the expectation of having 9,000 satellite communications transponders in orbit by ». 2015.