UN Space Treaty

That outer space and celestial bodies are incapable of ownership and open to the peaceful use of all States.

The State Party to the Treaty on whose registry the object is carried.

It was the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, marking the beginning of the exploration of outer space.

It is governed by the same regime as the High Seas.

That international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, applies to outer space and celestial bodies.

No State can claim ownership or sovereignty over outer space or celestial bodies.

Mutual State expectations about international relations in outer space

To benefit and be in the interests of all countries, regardless of their degree of economic or scientific development

It will be an orbital home for at least 15 years, followed by potential habitation on other planets

Will interplanetary colonization result in the formation of new 'States' as we know them?

It is uncertain whether it will be extended, abandoned, or supplanted by another regime

Making the questions about governance in outer space irrelevant

A view that totalitarian states adhere to military techniques for survival and as the firmest foundation for loyalty and respect

Free access to outer space, the moon, and other celestial bodies

It provides that activities in the exploration and use of outer space are governed by international law

Maintaining international peace and security, and promoting international cooperation and understanding

It does not give rise to sovereign rights, and countries cannot own celestial bodies or prohibit others from accessing them.

To promote the peaceful use of outer space and prevent national rivalries.

Nuclear explosions are not permitted in outer space.

It emphasizes the peaceful use of outer space and prohibits military use.

To clarify ambiguities in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and demilitarize the moon.

It holds the launching state liable for damage caused by falling space debris.

No military bases or maneuvers are allowed in space, although use of military for science is permitted.

They provide for strategic arms limitations and prohibit the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit around the Earth.

The technology could be used for both commercial communications and weapons guidance systems, violating various treaties.

It outlawed nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and under water, and its language influenced the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The provision is that each member 'undertakes to prohibit, to prevent, and not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, at any place under its jurisdiction or control.' India and Pakistan's 1998 nuclear testing generated a fresh resolve to broaden participation in this treaty.

The purpose was to place nuclear military installations in outer space to defensively neutralize Soviet weapons and those of other countries before they could reach the US. The Soviet Union claimed that this would violate the Outer Space Treaty.

The purpose was to test methods for protecting satellites from jamming and being otherwise disabled. The concern was that Russia might respond by resurrecting its own testing involving ballistic missile shots at its satellites.

The principle is that participants must assume full civil liability for their activities in outer space that cause harm to any of Earth's inhabitants. The 1971 Liability Convention was inspired by this principle.

The outcome was a diplomatic resolution. The claim was made because the Soviet Union did not comply with its treaty obligation to notify Canada of a nuclear-powered satellite's potential reentry into Canadian airspace.

Space exploration is currently 'on hold' due to the lack of a space race between superpowers, and economic considerations make it difficult for countries to continue massive planning. The main obstacle is the high cost of space exploration.

The treaty promotes international cooperation in the exploration of outer space, recognizing that outer space cannot be owned by any country. The current challenge is the need for cooperation to tap the resources available in outer space, particularly in the face of overpopulation and environmental degradation.

It implies that launching nations are automatically liable for damage caused by their spacecraft, even if they are not negligent.

The convention requires ratifying states to accept automatic responsibility for damage caused by their spacecraft. It was inspired by the Outer Space Treaty's principle of civil liability for harm caused by space activities.

There are over 500 satellites operating in space. The implications are concerns about the environmental impact of space activities and the need for international cooperation to manage the use of outer space.

to control destructive competition among commercial airlines

The State of registration has primary jurisdiction or control over its own aircraft wherever they are operating.

It provides for 'universal' jurisdiction, making hijacking a crime against all nations.

They may order course changes, escort offending planes out of their airspace, fire warning shots, or force landings.

They provide that outer space cannot be owned or claimed by any nation, is accessible to all nations, and shall be used for peaceful and scientific purposes.

It is possible that these norms will be ignored and replaced with a new regime, either constructive or destructive, as outer space activities develop.

The UN's efforts to outlaw the militarization of space are significant because they aim to prevent space from being used for military purposes, which could lead to a new era of conflict and tension.

Terra nullius refers to territory that belongs to no one and is capable of acquisition, and a state can establish a legitimate claim by showing that the disputed territory was initially terra nullius.

The distinction between internal waters and the territorial sea is significant because it determines the jurisdiction of a state over its coastal waters and the rights of other states to navigate and use these waters.

The historical methods for acquiring sovereignty over state territory include occupation, conquest, cession, prescription, and accretion, as well as renunciation, joint decision, and adjudication.

The concept of res communis refers to territories that are not capable of ownership or control by any sovereign state and must remain available for all to use.

The World Space Organization would develop and possess specialized expertise for achieving objectives contained in the UN Charter, and could act as a catalyst for managing resources, technology, and manpower in an independent way that would benefit all nations.

The prohibitions on the use of force have outlawed conquest as a legitimate basis for claiming sovereignty over a conquered territory, and modern international law emphasizes the importance of peaceful means of acquiring title to land.

A bay is a well-marked indentation with a penetration too deep to constitute a mere curvature of the coastline, and can be either a historic bay or a bay with international waters.

The rise of the information age is expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of satellites and other space-based objects in orbit, and will require new forms of international cooperation and regulation to manage the use of space.

The UN's efforts to promote international cooperation in the exploration and development of space are significant because they recognize the importance of space for the benefit of all humanity and aim to promote peaceful and cooperative use of space.

The baseline

Twelve nautical miles

Innocent passage

To allow ships to pass through straits as if they still contain High Seas

That part of the ocean not subject to the exclusive territorial sovereignty of any nation

To protect the coastal State's interests in enforcing its laws governing matters such as immigration, customs, and drug control

To authorize State control over resources in the waters up to 200 nautical miles from shore

To supervise the equitable distribution of the world's ocean resources

To accommodate the conflict between the historical rule of freedom of the seas and the modern need for an equitable distribution of ocean resources

It includes the airspace above the territory of a State