Treaties, by their very definition, are worked out at the state level, while norms are created by all those who are actively working in space, including non-state actors.17. However, those broad statements of principles are still necessary but no longer adequate.1 Indeed, with the pace of development of space-related projects, we currently face a legal vacuum in various fields, in particular regarding the military use of outer space.2 To deal with that, the MILAMOS project by McGill University aims to develop a widely-accepted manual clarifying the fundamental rules applicable to the military use of outer space, in times of peace as well as in periods of tension and in outright armed conflict. →, India is sending astronauts in space in 2022: why it is important, The crazy history of the space OTRAG company and space law aspects. In addition to these international instruments, many states have national legislation governing space-related activities. Only a question of cultural soft power? A new Group of Governmental Experts should be established to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements related to this topic. Let us have a look at it. Strictly speaking, the STM should thus be based on a logic different from that adopted for Air Traffic Management, with which it nevertheless shares certain problems. ESA; RegoLight, visualisation: Liquifer Systems Group, 2018. Each of them is as firmly associated with the history of space exploration as with its first owners, the gods of Greek and Roman mythology. There is a lot of historic and sentimental memorabilia. A/75/20 - Decisions and actions by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Legal Subcommittee taken by written procedure, ST/SPACE/ - Ten Years of the UN-SPIDER Beijing Office. 37th Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space IAF Congress, Jerusalem (October 1994) J.D. Symbol Year Title Available languages ST/SPACE/61/Rev.2 2017 International Space Law: United Nations Instruments عربي 中文 English Français Русский Español In the context of tension linked to the Cold War, the two great powers have sought to prevent space from becoming a zone of conflict.

The international nature of outer space and the idealist objectives of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty require the U.N. to act as soon as possible, remembering that, as written in Article I of the OST, “The exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries”. here to find out how many states have ratified the treaties! Space law addresses a variety of matters, such as, for example, the preservation of the space and Earth environment, liability for damages caused by space objects, the settlement of disputes, the rescue of astronauts, the sharing of information about potential dangers in outer space, the use of space-related technologies, and international cooperation. As far as the near-Earth space is concerned, article IV of the aforementioned international convention authorises States to transit through outer space, objects carrying nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. Soft law instruments have become the preferred form of defining and refining norms for space activities. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Space law can be described as the body of law governing space-related activities. Just as air traffic and maritime traffic require common and shared rules of all, the future standards of space traffic cannot be defined as anything other than multilateral. It has many advantages: it is quicker, it can address also private entities, it is easier to adapt, and it is also very effective through peer pressure and inclusion in national space legislation.7 However, it is also disputed whether soft law is efficient and effective enough for some of today’s most urgent challenges, for instance space debris and military uses.

Intellectual Property aboard the International Space Station. Copyright © 2010–2020, The Conversation US, Inc. Andrew Dempster is a Friend of The Conversation. Thus, if the appropriation of a celestial body is prohibited, the exploitation of its resources would be lawful. IISL-94-IISL.4.844. A-1220 Vienna At the end of the day, the problem is that no-one on Earth wants nuclear waste stored near them, and it's not safe or cost-effective to blast it into space. The establishment of military bases, installations and fortifications, the testing of any type of weapons and the conduct of military manoeuvres on celestial bodies shall be forbidden. I’ve Always Wondered: could someone take ownership of a planet or a moon?