On the Golden Dome: How Trump’s Missile Defense Tests Space Law

“The Golden Dome: A Legal Inflection Point for Space Governance”

• The “Golden Dome” is a $175-billion space-based missile shield launched by U.S. President Donald Trump in May 2025.

• The project involves deploying satellite interceptors potentially armed with kinetic or directed-energy weapons to form a protective layer over the U.S.

• The project has sparked global concerns about its geopolitical implications and implications under international space law.

• The Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967, prohibits placing “nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction” in orbit.

• The deployment of space-based interceptors threatens this norm and could trigger similar actions by other nations.

• The Golden Dome is a test for India’s legal and diplomatic posture and could influence the Space Activities Bill.

• The project exposes loopholes in the treaty and underscores the need for modern legal instruments.