# Understanding This Resolution on Space Weapons

This resolution is basically Congress saying "we support an international agreement to stop blowing up satellites with missiles." Here's why that matters: satellites orbiting Earth provide services we all depend on every single day—GPS navigation, weather forecasting, phone calls, internet, bank transactions, and TV broadcasts all rely on them. When countries test anti-satellite weapons by shooting down satellites, they create massive clouds of debris that float around in space for decades, threatening other satellites and making space more dangerous for everyone.

The problem has gotten serious enough that it's now a real concern. The U.S. is tracking over 47,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters orbiting Earth, and there are an estimated 100 million smaller pieces up there too. When satellites have to dodge this debris, they burn fuel and don't last as long. Russia tested an anti-satellite missile in 2021 and created over 1,500 pieces of trackable debris, while China's 2007 test created at least 3,400 pieces—79 percent of which will still be orbiting 100 years later. The U.S. stopped doing these destructive tests in 2022 and is now asking other countries to do the same.

This resolution expresses support for a United Nations proposal calling on all countries to voluntarily commit to not conducting these destructive anti-satellite tests. Nine countries have already joined the U.S. in making this pledge, including Canada, the UK, Japan, and Australia. The resolution essentially says Congress backs this international effort and is calling on other nations—especially those with lots of satellites and those that have tested these weapons before—to join in. It's not a binding law that changes anything immediately, but rather Congress saying this is the direction the U.S. should be pushing for on the world stage.

Expressing support for the draft United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/C.1/77/L.62 calling upon member states to commit not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests, introduced by the United States at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Lieu, Ted

 <p>This resolution supports a United Nations resolution and related efforts to halt the use of destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests.</p>