Nonproliferation in the New Space Age: Where do We Stand?

To date nuclear weapon states and space states have primarily been one and the same with few exceptions. In addition to exploring space through traditional means, these countries have opted on several occasions to utilize special nuclear material (SNM). As with all objects placed into space, the state responsible for launching or operating the object in space is ultimately responsible, which provides the initial tracking for SNM. In the near future, as space becomes more crowded, with more states and private companies looking to seize the opportunities it has to offer, this tracking becomes insufficient. Currently, there are several treaties, conventions, and principles governing objects in space including those with nuclear materials. However, the nuclear materials are governed by the nonbinding Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Space which defines safety protocols and procedures. This does not reflect the safeguards agreed to in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Due to the complexity of space missions and the vast expanse of the solar system, various challenges are presented to the current methods of international safeguards. In order to address these challenges and a growing need for a space SNM framework for safeguards, a combination of containment and surveillance, unattended and remote monitoring, and continuity of knowledge is proposed to accomplish accountability of spaceborne SNM.