Now, the treaty prohibits nations from claiming ownership to a celestial body. In june 1966 the united states and the soviet union submitted draft treaties on the uses of space to the united nations. Opened for signature at london, moscow and washington. I am delighted to take part in this years galloway symposium commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the outer space treaty. It was developed in 1967 with cooperation between the united states and the thensoviet union, two nations heavily involved in the socalled space race. Status of international agreements relating to activities in. In 1967, when the outer space treaty was signed, the cold war was in full swing. Department of state signed at washington, london, moscow, january 27, 1967 entered into force october 10, 1967 narrative treaty text signatory list narrative the outer space treaty, as it is known, was the second of the socalled nonarmament treaties. At the same time, the soviet union government submitted a draft treaty on principles governing the activities of space in the exploration and use of outer space, the moon and other 2 aac. Treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies. Antonella bini, united nations office for outer space affairs unoosa perspectives 14 e s p i.
Outer space treaty while house ceremony marks entry into force of outer space treaty, department of state bulletin, 565 30 october 1967. On 10 october 1967, the outer space treaty went into force. According to these american policy documents and others, military space. The information, in accordance with the format above, shall be provided by the.
Rescuing americas space program and choice, not fate. It was the first of a series of unsponsored conferences intended to create an international framework of laws to guide humanitys use of outer space resources. Outer space treaty and international relations theory. Union of soviet socialist republics, united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, umted states of america, afghanistan, argentina, etc. Manual on international law applicable to military uses of outer space. The outer space treaty entered into force rapidly, within nine months of the conclusion of the process of drafting, and as of 1 january 2008 enjoys the ratifications of 98 states plus the signatures of 27 more states.
Both the us and the soviet union wanted to prevent the expansion of the nuclear arms race into a completely new. Limits imposed by outer space law on military operations in outer. Peaceful uses of outer space has permitted its militarization does. The outer space treaty designates outer space as the province of mankind and prohibits states from placing objects with nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction into orbit. Clarke, a central figure in the bis, it stated that any activity in space. Vedda the aerospace corporation jim vedda is a senior policy analyst performing policy research and evaluation for various government agencies. Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means. Any other form of military development or activities is also banned, such. The outer space treaty, as it is known, was the second of the socalled nonarmament treaties. The treaty on rescue and return of astronauts and space objects. Fifty years of the institute for defence studies and.
Attempts to ban private property throughout the solar system for mankind and descendants. The provisions of the space treaty which relate directly to jurisdiction in outer space are articles ii and viii. Today, it is important to renew these efforts and create more awareness of the potentially harmful consequences that space weapons have for all nations. Federation of american scientists the outer space treaty. Center for space policy and strategy policy paper the outer space treaty. This collection of documents is a work in progress. But anyone exploring space has to do it peacefully. International institute of air and space law, leiden university, the netherlands. The ost lets face it was created to control and restrict the needless militarisation of space, at a time rampant with militarisation. Treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies justin adriel espaldon ordoyo u. Legal challenges relating to the commercial use of outer.
Abbreviations used osmcb outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies os outer space cb celestial body 3. Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space. The ost grew gradually out of a series of conferences on outer space law and several. The treaty was opened for signature in the united states, the united kingdom, and the soviet union on 27 january 1967, and entered into force on 10. These 11 laws are what keep space from becoming the wild. The outer space treaty, formally the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and. The early exploration of space in the mid20th century had, in part, a military motivation, as the united states and the soviet union used it as an opportunity to demonstrate ballisticmissile technology and other technologies having the potential for military application. Peaceful uses of outer space, as endorsed by unga resolution 62217 2007.
Outer space, created by the general assembly in 1959, twk the position in its report that serious problems could arise if states claimed, on one ground or another, exclusive rights over all or part of a. The outer space treaty has been ratified by 95 states and signed by 27 others. Under article ii, outer space cannot be nationally appropriated either by claim of. Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies. Of particular interest is the authors identification of potential legal issues relating to outer space. Use of the moon or any celestial body for military purposes. The foundational document that sets international law for conducting space activities the 1967 outer space treaty ost is about to turn 50. The provisions of this treaty shall apply to the activities of states parties to the treaty in the exploration and use of outer space including the moon and other celestial bodies, whether such activities are carried on by a single state party to the treaty or jointly with other. Agreement governing the activities of states on the moon and other celestial bodies, henceforth referred to as the moon treaty. The treaty on the principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodiesknown as the outer space treatyprohibits signatories from orbiting, installing, or stationing nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in outer space. The outer space treaty at a glance arms control association. Relevance and limitations of outer space treaty in 21st century 48 ranjana kaul 5.
For the benefit of all mankind 20 joan johson freese 3. Government of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. According to the liability convention, anything that goes into. On outer space, related general assembly resolutions and other documents.
Galloway symposium on critical issues in space law last week. The outer space treaty,1 being the first and the most comprehensive. Agreed on during a golden age of cooperation between the thendominant superpowers, the soviet union and the united states, the treaty. The 1967 outer space treaty and other unoosa rulings, just like unclos law of the sea, are at best guidelines for the effectively ideal methods to manage space. The outer space treaty and all subsequent space laws were created during the cold war, when the soviet union and the us sought to avoid taking their rivalry into the sky. It has been signed and made official, or ratified, by 105. United nations treaties and principles on outer space unoosa. Outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all states, the outer space treaty reads. Report of the ceremony held at the white house where nations signed the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space. Like other treaties, the outer space treaty allows for amendments or member withdrawal. United nations treaties and principles on outer space.
The outer space treaty is an international treaty designed to address concerns about the potential uses and abuses of space. It has been accepted for inclusion in documents on outer space law by an authorized. Draft international code of conduct for outer space activities. This treaty, which was signed in 1967, was agreed through the united nations, and today it remains the constitution of outer space.
How an international treaty signed 50 years ago became the. Space exploration, including the moon and other celestial bodies, must be in the best interest of mankind as a whole, and all countries must be free to explore space for scientific and. The outer space treaty has 17 articles highlighting several crucial agreements in order to preserve the liberty of outer space and the celestial bodies within it. Exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and.
Installation of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction on the moon, on any other celestial body, or in outer space. The information, in accordance with the format above, shall be provided. Article iii states parties to the treaty shall carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in. Countries exploring space are responsible and liable for any damage their activities may cause. The outer space treaty, formally the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is a treaty that forms the basis of international space law. Outer space treaty 1967 nuclear arms control treaties. State department legal advisor brian egan discussed the relevance of the treaty today and its future at the 11th eilene m. Like that treaty it sought to prevent a new form of colonial competition and the possible damage that selfseeking exploitation might cause.
The treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, which is usually called the outer space treaty, is one of the most significant lawmaking treaties concluded in the second half of the twentieth century. Treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the. As well as the outer space treaty, there are four other treaties governing space law. Space exploration is to be guided by principles of cooperation and mutual assistance, such as obliging astronauts to provide aid to one another if needed. Outer space treaty, formally treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, 1967, international treaty binding the parties to use outer space only for peaceful purposes. The treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies outer space treaty entered into force. Placement of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in orbit around the earth. In 1979, the united nations attempted to forever forbid mankind from the right to private property in outer space, through the u. The treaty is the cornerstone of an international legal framework for outer space that has enabled the exploration and use of space by an increasingly diverse range of actors, serving a.
States are also prohibited from installing weapons on celestial bodies and on the moon. The militarisation of space involves the placement and development of weaponry and military technology in outer space. After the 1967 nonarmament outer space treaty was signed, it was followed in 1968 with the united nations convened unispace, the united nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space. For those documents that are not yet available on the website, the hyperlink to the pdf will not be active. Outer space treaty 1967 multilateral agreement signed and ratified between the u. Interpreting article ii of the outer space treaty stephen gorove rticle ii of the outer space treaty provides that outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means. Use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies u. United nations audiovisual library of international law. Antarctic treaty, june 23, 1961 partial test ban treaty, october 10, 1963 treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, october 10, 1967 nuclear nonproliferation treaty, march 5, 1970 agreement between the usa and ussr to reduce the risk of nuclear war, september 30, 1971.