02
Feb 2016
Who owns outer space ?
The answer is: nobody.
To find it, we have to refer to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, signed 27 january 1967.
The Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following principles :
- the 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 States ;
- outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means ;
- States 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 ;
- States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities ;
- States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects ;
- States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.
Good to know, isn’t it ?
Nasser Merabet
Laywer
avocat@nmerabet.fr