In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty went into effect, and became the primary basis of international law regarding outer space for all nations to adhere to in the following decades. Within this treaty were several foundational principles that defined legal activity in space, including the following provisions:
- 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.
As space technologies and activities changed significantly post-Cold War, international policies have largely remained stagnant due to several reasons; including changes in geopolitics, and the privatization of space.
How do we (and how will we) govern this vitally important realm?
To learn more about the international legal framework regarding outer space, watch the video above and follow Dr. Cassandra Steer, the Arsenault Fellow at the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, on Twitter @CassandraSteer.
