Scotland’s Spaceports: A Step Toward Star Wars?

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

So says Han Solo in the Star Wars movies. This describes our view on the increasing militarisation of space.

From intelligence gathering to command and control of nuclear weapons, satellites are an integral part of the infrastructure that sustains the US/UK threat of nuclear warfighting. In the past (thankfully now prevented by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty), the U.S.A and the Soviet Union even tested nuclear weapons in space. 

How does this affect Scotland?

At present, five spaceports have licences to go ahead in sensitive and important habitats, home to sea birds and marine creatures. Faced with the twin existential threats of climate change and nuclear war, these spaceports are a step in the wrong direction.

All existing commercial spaceports conduct missions for the military and are implicated in weapons development. Some Scottish spaceports already have military/nuclear connections. On top of this, rocket launching burns large quantities of fuel, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The vibration and noise of explosions are also disruptive to wildlife. 

On the other hand, existing space technology can be used to good purpose, for example through collecting data on climate and the environment.

We want to keep space for peace.