The Common Interest in the Exploration, Use and Exploitation of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes: The Soviet-American Dilemma

It may be supposed that the final disposition of the use of anti-satellite satellites (ASAT) will take the form of an international agreement which would prescribe required conduct and which would meet the national interests of the signatories. Some attention might be given to a possible alternative. One suggestion is for each of the superpowers to announce that it will pursue a given policy provided the same policy is adhered to by the other. Or, perhaps the promulgation of a national position, for example, a moratorium on ASAT launches, if rigorously adhered to by the other State, might lead to acceptance of a formal international agreement.