Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space

Bowen, Bleddyn E.

Abstract

Space technology was developed to enhance the killing power of the state. The Moon landings and the launch of the Space Shuttle were mere sideshows, drawing public attention away from the real goal: military and economic control of space as a source of power on Earth. Today, as Bleddyn E. Bowen vividly recounts, thousands of satellites work silently in the background to provide essential military, intelligence, and economic capabilities. No major power can do without them. Beyond Washington, Moscow, and Beijing, truly global technologies have evolved, from the ground floor of the nuclear missile revolution to today’s orbital battlefield, shaping the wars to come. World powers including India, Japan, and Europe are fully realizing the strategic benefits of commanding Earth’s “cosmic coastline,” as a stage for war, development, and prestige. Yet, as new contenders spend more and more on outer space, there is scope for cautious optimism about the future of the Space Age--if we can recognise, rather than hide, its original sin.

Citation

Bowen, B. E. (2023). Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197677315.001.0001

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Online Publication Date: May 18, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2025
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 9780197677315
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197677315.001.0001
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3343018