Space Lawyers
What is Space Law?
Space law refers to the international and national laws, treaties, regulations, and principles that govern activities in outer space. Some of the key elements of space law include:
Outer Space Treaty
The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is considered the foundation of international space law. It establishes space as a global commons, bans weapons of mass destruction in space, holds countries responsible for their space activities, and more. Over 100 countries have ratified it.
Liability Convention
The Liability Convention of 1972 establishes procedures for determining liability and securing compensation for damage caused by space objects. Countries can be held liable for damage caused by their space objects.
Registration Convention
The Registration Convention of 1975 requires countries to register their space objects. This helps determine ownership and liability if necessary.
Commercial Space Laws
Many countries have enacted national laws to authorize, license, and supervise private commercial space activities by their citizens. For example, the U.S. passed the Commercial Space Launch Act to promote private space launches.
Issues in Space Law
Some key issues in space law include property rights, utilization of space resources, orbital debris, and military activities in space. There are open questions about sovereignty, ownership, and exploitation as more countries and companies engage in space activities.