THE US has adopted a new space policy that rejects future arms-control agreements and claims a right to deny access to space to anyone "hostile to American interests".

The US President, George Bush, signed the new policy document, which emphasises security issues, encourages private enterprise in space and characterises the role of US space diplomacy mainly in terms of persuading other nations to support US policy.

"Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power," the policy says in its introduction.