been militarized. An arms race in space wou.ld be star ted if weapons intended for striking targets both in space and on Earth from space were to be placed in space, and if weapons designed for striking targets in space were to appear on Earth. In this context, I should like to endorse the viewpoint expressed by the Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Dumas, to the effect that "the deployment of new types of anti-missile or anti-satellite weapons on earth or in space would lead to a new race, with its risk of destabilizing effects" {A/40/PV.lO, page 66). The need for pr_even ting such an evolution has been emphasized in recent years by the United Nations General Assembly. One may recall the resolution on preventing an arms race in space which was endorsed last year by 150 States. As we all know, only one country did not support that decision. Its representatives state that they do not intend to abandon the strategic defence initiatives, while depicting the "star wars" plan as a research programme which does not yet mean the beginning of an arms race in space. There should be complete clarity about this question. First of all, this programme cannot be regarded as research. It is sufficient to consider its scope to see that this is the first stage of a project aimed at developing space strike weapons. Seventy billion dollars will be spent on it over the next few years. At current prices this is more than four times the cost of the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb, and more than twice the cost of the Apollo programme, which culminated in man•s landing on the moon. Even now the so-called research goes far beyond theoretical studies. Reports are continually coming in about the development and, in some cases, the testing, of 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the potential risks and consequences of a militarization of space, specifically the development of weapons intended for striking targets in space and on Earth. It emphasizes the need for preventing an arms race in space and highlights the concerns expressed by the Foreign Minister of France and the United Nations General Assembly. The text also provides specific examples and comparisons to other large-scale projects, such as the Manhattan Project and the Apollo programme. Given the focus on the military aspect and the potential risks of an arms race, it is likely that the text falls under the category of Science and Technology.

**Category**
Science and Technology