In “Weapons in Space,” Aaron Bateman provides a fresh perspective on the once-secret history of the Cold War’s superpower space race and the controversial Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) established by Ronald Reagan in 1983. Drawing from newly declassified documents, Bateman sheds light on the role of military space technologies in late-Cold War US defense strategy and foreign relations, highlighting the international participation in SDI and its impact on diplomatic efforts for arms control. The book challenges traditional narratives by emphasizing the political controversy surrounding SDI rather than its technical feasibility, offering valuable insights into the ongoing debate on space militarization in the twenty-first century.
https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5770/Weapons-in-SpaceTechnology-Politics-and-the-Rise