October 2021
A US space strategy for 2050: shaping a domain on the cusp
... as the “Wild, Wild, West”. Technology has advanced to a point where the foundational 1967 Outer Space Treaty has become obsolete. The treaty bans weapons of mass destruction, prevents military activity on celestial bodies, and charts peaceful uses...
June 2015
The new space ethics: COSPAR, Planetary Protection and beyond
... on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies know colloquially as The Outer Space Treaty (OST)23 has been widely ratified by nations24 and is recognised...
June 2019
The challenge of planetary protection
... search for extraterrestrial life It is important to understand the legal and policy background. Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967 addresses the avoidance of harmful contamination of celestial bodies (forward contamination) and the...
April 2019
Is a military space force justified?
...operating the invaded facility is also required to be authorised by its state of nationality. From the perspective of the Outer Space Treaty, an invasion against the authorised facilities of a company is the same as an attack on the authorising state...
July 2020
Pandemic in space – are we ready?
... was hailed as a “reference standard for spacefaring nations in guiding compliance with Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty”. Under a later space law treaty, the Rescue and Return Agreement, States are obliged to share information on “conditions...
August 2018
Flouting the rules on satellite registrations
... responsible for acts of its private actors under international space law. The Outer Space Treaty (Article III) also states that general international law is applicable to outer space. Reading Article VI harmoniously with Article III, the general...
