Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.6 Principles on space adopted by the UN General Assembly
Declaration of Legal
Principles Governing the
Activities of States in the
Exploration and Uses of
Outer Space (1963)
Space exploration should be carried out for the benefi t of all
countries. Outer space and celestial bodies are free for
exploration and use by all states and are not subject to national
appropriation by claim of sovereignty. States are liable for
damage caused by spacecraft and bear international
responsibility for national and non-governmental activities in
outer space
Principles on Direct
Broadcasting by Satellite
(1982)
All states have the right to carry out direct television
broadcasting and to access its technology, but states must take
responsibility for the signals broadcasted by them or actors
under their jurisdiction
Principles on Remote
Sensing (1986)
Remote sensing should be carried out for the benefi t of all
states, and remote sensing data should not be used against the
legitimate rights and interests of the sensed state
Principles on Nuclear Power
Sources (1992)
Nuclear power may be necessary for certain space missions, but
safety and liability guidelines apply to its use
Declaration on Outer Space
Benefi ts (1996)
International cooperation in space should be carried out for the
benefi t and in the interest of all states, with particular attention
to the needs of developing states
The PAROS resolution calls for states to refrain from actions contrary to the
objective of PAROS and to 'contribute actively' to that objective. A PAROS treaty
would also prevent any nation from gaining a military advantage in space and reduce
the military use of space. In 2007, the UN Secretary General released a report on
'Transparency and confi dence-building measures in outer space', on behalf of the
European Union which proposed the development of a comprehensive code of
conduct in space and suggested guidelines for the general principles, scope and
participation for such a code. A fi rst draft of a 'Code of Conduct' was published by
the EU in 2008 and a revised draft released September 2010, with the latest version
being presented in June 2012 (European Union 2012 ). It calls on countries to refrain
from actions that would damage or destroy other satellites or interfere with their
communications and to minimise the risk of collisions and limit the creation of
orbital debris. Its preamble states:
[T]he formation of a set of best practices aimed at ensuring security in outer space could
become a useful complement to international space law.
As a PAROS treaty has proved diffi cult, the CD has focused instead on a treaty
to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space. This circumvents the US argu-
ment against PAROS but doesn't solve the questions of where outer space begins,
what type of weapons should be prohibited or if the treaty would be verifi able. On
12 February 2008, Russia and China formally introduced to the CD a draft Treaty
on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use
of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT). The draft treaty is designed 'to
eliminate existing lacunas in international space law, create conditions for further
exploration and use of space, preserve costly space property, and strengthen general
security and arms control'.
 
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