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So, how has the international community¡ªcountries, scientists, and the space industry¡ªadapted to this increased activity to maintain awareness of space developments and ensure space remains peaceful and beneficial for all?

¡°There's always this perception that the space treaties are from the '60s and outdated. But it¡¯s truly the opposite,¡± says Rosanna Hoffmann, a Legal Officer who leads the Space Law for New Space Actors Project at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

Her team collaborates with UN member countries to develop or update their national space laws and policies, ensuring alignment with existing space treaties.

¡°We help countries implement these treaties nationally, ensuring their daily application,¡± she explains. This work also encompasses non-legally binding declarations and technical legal principles, such as guidelines on space sustainability and debris mitigation. These instruments ¡°continue the legacy of the treaties and address current challenges,¡± she adds.

Before exploring the space treaties, legal principles, and declarations that protect outer space, it's important to understand the role of the , established in 1959. This committee provides a vital multilateral platform for the international community¡ªincluding member countries and observers like the scientific community¡ªto negotiate and develop these key agreements. UNOOSA supports its work.

COPUOS, which has grown from 24 to over 100 member countries and more than 50 observer organizations, meets annually to address the growing number of space-related issues.

6 June 2017: An annual meeting of the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna. Credit: UNOOSA

International Space Treaties

1967: , the foundation of international space law, prohibits weapons of mass destruction in space, limits celestial body use to peaceful purposes, and mandates that outer space be freely explored for the benefit of all countries. The treaty, containing 17 articles, also prevents national sovereignty claims over outer space or celestial bodies and holds nations liable for damage caused by their space objects. As of March 2024, 115 countries, including all major spacefaring nations, are party to the treaty.

1968: , expands upon of the Outer Space Treaty. It mandates that countries take all possible measures to rescue and assist astronauts in distress and return them to their launching country. It also stipulates that countries, upon request, should assist in recovering and returning space objects that land outside the launching country's territory.

1972: , expands upon of the Outer Space Treaty, establishing absolute liability for launching states for damages caused by their space objects on Earth's surface or to aircraft.

1976: , requires countries to register their orbiting space objects with the UN. The UN Secretary-General maintains ensuring access to the information provided by countries and international intergovernmental organizations.

1984: , stipulates that the Moon and other celestial bodies be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, prohibiting environmental disruption. It requires countries to inform the UN about the location and purpose of any stations established on these bodies and declares the Moon and its natural resources the common heritage of all humankind.

International space legal principles and declarations

Advances in technology necessitated the development of legal principles and declarations to support the earlier treaties. These agreements, negotiated from 1982 to 1996, addressed a range of technical issues, from television broadcasting to space debris mitigation and nuclear power in space.

¡°You will seldom see a treaty delve into something technical. It's more often the case that COPUOS Member States develop technical standards or guidelines in addition to the treaties. They are non-legally binding instruments that, once implemented nationally, become legally binding,¡± explains Hoffmann.

1964: established foundational principles for space exploration and use, paving the way for the later Outer Space Treaty. Key principles include the freedom of exploration for all countries, international responsibility for space activities, and the importance of international cooperation.

1982: provide guidelines for countries using satellites for direct international broadcasting, addressing potential political, economic, and cultural implications.

1986: provide guidance on remote sensing of Earth from space for improved natural resource management, land use, and environmental protection.

1992: outline guidelines to ensure the safe use of nuclear power sources in outer space.

1996: provides guiding principles for exploring and using outer space in a way that will benefit all countries, regardless of their degree of economic, social or scientific development.

2007: set international standards for minimizing space debris by regulating spacecraft design, operation and disposal.

2009: provides international best practices for the safe use of nuclear power in space missions, covering all mission phases from launch to disposal.

Currently, countries are negotiating a legal framework to govern the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources, such as minerals, water, and oxygen.

The private sector and space

23 June 2018: American astronaut and UNOOSA Champion for Space participates in a major global space conference, UNISPACE+50, which brought together countries, international organizations, space industry and many others. Credit: UNOOSA

The UN recognizes the private sector's pivotal role in the expanding space industry, marking a significant shift from the previously government-dominated era. UNOOSA actively promotes partnerships with private companies to leverage the space economy for sustainable development.

These treaties, legal principles, and declarations, which apply to countries, also extend to the private sector, requiring adherence to national legal standards and international law.

"Whatever happens in outer space, whether by a company or a national space agency, the country of origin is legally responsible," says Hoffmann. "Countries must authorize and supervise the activity," she adds, citing examples like space tourism and satellite launches.

The space industry¡ªincluding the private sector, national space agencies, and the scientific community¡ªdrives space innovation and technological advancement, often collaborating with COPUOS member countries to address the opportunities and challenges of space exploration.

For example, the industry has been instrumental in developing space debris removal technologies and promoting responsible satellite design and operation. The scientific community has also proposed potential legislation to mitigate light and radio interference from satellites, preserving "dark and quiet skies" for astronomical research and cultural heritage.

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