Who owns the moon? Are nuclear weapons allowed in space? And who makes these laws?
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs was formed in December of 1958. This little-talked-about group is responsible for implementing decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. If you were ever wanting to practice international space law, this is where you need to be. They have made five treaties and agreements since their inception.
- The first treaty, dated October 10, 1967, governs the activities of countries in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies. It includes some of the following principles: exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind; outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all countries; outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means; countries shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner; the Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes; astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind; countries shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and countries shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.
- The second, dated December 3, 1968, is an agreement on the rescue of astronauts, the return of astronauts, and the return of objects launched into outer space.
- The third, dated September 1, 1972, says that a launching country shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its faults in space.
- The fourth, dated September 15, 1976, requires all space objects to be registered, including who launched it, an identifying number, and its orbital parameters, among others.
- The fifth, dated July 11, 1984, elaborates on activities allowed on the Moon and other celestial objects: their environments should not be disrupted, the United Nations should be informed of the location and purpose of any station established on those bodies, the Moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind and that an international regime should be established to govern the exploitation of such resources when it becomes necessary.
So, in summary, NO ONE owns space. Now when someone tries to sell you a plot on the moon or your name on a star, ask yourself how someone can sell something they don't own. Nuclear weapons are NOT allowed in space. (Nuclear power is, however, and is regulated as one of the five declarations and legal principles.) Keep track of your space junk (a growing issue), and if one of your satellites falls back to Earth, be prepared to pay for the consequences. If an astronaut makes an emergency landing in a country other than that which it launched from, it is due rescue services and to be returned to the country of origin. The fifth point becomes interesting as more plans are made to head out to solar system bodies, such as asteroids, and mine them for material resources, along with the planned base on the Moon and robotic explorations of other planets.
