U.S., EU Eye Code of Conduct for Space

The Obama administration is negotiating with the European Union on an agreement limiting the use of anti-satellite weapons, a move that some critics say could curb U.S. development of space weapons in general.

Three congressional staffers told The Washington Times that Pentagon and intelligence analysts said in a briefing Monday that the administration is looking to sign on to the European Union‘s Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities [PDF].

The briefing followed the completion of an interagency review that recommends the United States sign on to the document with only a few minor changes to its language, according to two administration officials familiar with the review. That recommendation is awaiting final approval from the National Security Council, reports The Washington Times and the Global Security News Wire.

The Russians and Chinese have been advancing a UN General Assembly consensus resolution on transparency and confidence building measures in outer space activities (TCBMs) with 68 countries acting as as cosponsors of the draft resolution in late 2009, and the EU countries joining as a collective cosponsor of the resolution in New York. The UN continued work on the resolution in 2010 and is expected to do so again this year.