Space Security

Context:

Britain recently moved a UN Resolution to prevent an arms race in outer space

What are the current space regulations?

Several legally binding international instruments (treaties) governing the use of outer space for peaceful purposes have been adopted within the framework of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST) at its core.

´ UNCOPUOS (1958):

• The UNCOPUOS was established in 1958 as an ad hoc committee of the UN (later made permanent in 1959) with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) as its secretariat.
• UNCOPUOS oversees the implementation of five UN treaties related to outer space activities, namely,
  • Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 1967 (Outer Space Treaty)
  • Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts
  • the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space of 1968 (Rescue Agreement),
  • Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects of 1972 (Liability Convention),
  • Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space of 1976 (Registration Convention)
  • the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 1979 (Moon Treaty)
• It also oversees other related international agreements like the
  • Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water (NTB) of 1963
  • the Brussels Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme–Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite (BRS) of 1979

´ Outer Space Treaty

• The Treaty declares outer space“The province of mankind”.
• It bars states party to the treaty from placing weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, installing them on the Moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise stationing them in outer space.
• It specifically limits the use of the Moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes and expressly prohibits their use for testing weapons of any kind, conducting military maneuvers, or establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications.
• Treaty does not prohibit the placement of conventional weapons in orbit, and thus some highly destructive attack tactics, such as kinetic bombardment, are still potentially allowed.
• The exploration of outer space shall be done to benefit all countries and that space shall be free for exploration and use by all the states.