!

IDSA Issue iief

Deliberating the Space Code
of Conduct
!"#$ &#'#
!"#$ &#'# is Reseaich IeIIov al lhe Inslilule foi Defence Sludies & AnaIyses
(IDSA), Nev DeIhi.
January 29, 2012
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Summary
The InleinalionaI Code of Conducl foi Oulei Space Aclivilies is an inpoilanl slep lovaids
naking Oulei Space noie safe and secuie foi lhe conducl of vaiious opeialions. Il has
leen pul logelhei vilh lhe ain of ensuiing lhe secuiily, safely and suslainaliIily of aII
Oulei Space aclivilies. This Issue iief anaIyses lhe vaiious piovisions nade in lhis diafl
and aigues lhal, in ils piesenl avalai, lhe CoC is nol capalIe of ieaIizing ils slaled ain
fuIIy nainIy lecause lhe Code Iacks an accounlaliIily nechanisn. This iief nay le
iead aIong vilh an eaiIiei connenlaiy viillen ly lhe aulhoi on lhe IDSA velsile lilIed
Space Code of Conducl: Inadequale Mechanisn and a iesponse lo lhis viev offeied ly
MichaeI Kiepon.
()*+',)-#./ Vievs expiessed in IDSAs pulIicalions and on ils velsile aie lhose of lhe aulhois and
do nol necessaiiIy iefIecl lhe vievs of lhe IDSA oi lhe Coveinnenl of India.
DeIileialing lhe Space Code of Conducl
e
"
Introduction
Aclivilies in Oulei Space aie incieasing, vilh a gioving nunlei of slales eilhei Iaunching
oi keen lo Iaunch lheii ovn saleIIiles. In viev of such expanding Space aclivilies, lheie is
a need lo slienglhen lhe exisling IegaI aichilecluie lo addiess vaiious Space aclivilies.
Allenpls aie leing nade lo devise a sel of iuIes and piaclices lo foinuIale gIolaIIy accepled
guideIines foi lhe Space aiena. In 2OO8, lhe Luiopean Union (LU), in ils allenpl lo piovide
a conpIenenlaiy nechanisn lo lhe exisling fianevoik ieguIaling Oulei Space, had
ciicuIaled a diafl Code of Conducl (CoC) in lhis iegaid.
1
RecenlIy, on }une 6, 2O12, lhe LU
officiaIIy Iaunched (in Vienna) a nuIliIaleiaI dipIonalic piocess lo discuss and negoliale
an InleinalionaI CoC foi Oulei Space. Negolialions on lhe lasis of lhis lexl aie expecled lo
slail al lhe MuIliIaleiaI Lxpeils Meeling (Oclolei 2O12) al Nev Yoik anongsl aII Uniled
Nalions (UN) nenlei slales ained al adopling lhe Code in 2O13.
Backdrop
Oulei Space has leen desciiled as a congesled, conlesled, and conpelilive nediun.
Nine (11 if Ukiaine and Russia aie incIuded, ovei and alove lhe eislvhiIe USSR) counliies
have Space Iaunch capaliIilies and ovei 6O counliies ovn and opeiale appioxinaleIy
1,1OO aclive saleIIiles.
2
These Space syslens leIong lo vaiious calegoiies Iike civiI, niIilaiy,
and conneiciaI saleIIiles. IiesenlIy, vaiious slales in lhe voiId aie depending significanlIy
on Space lechnoIogies foi lhe puiposes of connunicalion, ienole sensing and navigalion.
Vaiious assels in Space couId encounlei inlenlionaI oi accidenlaI coIIision vilh oililaI
Space deliis iesuIling fion hunan aclivilies.
Al piesenl, vaiious aclivilies in Oulei Space aie goveined ly a fev gIolaIIy acknovIedged
liealy nechanisns Iike lhe Oulei Space Tiealy (OST, 1967)
3
and Moon Tiealy (1979).
4
The
agieenenl on lhe Rescue of Aslionauls, lhe Reluin of Aslionauls and lhe Reluin of Oljecls
Launched inlo Oulei Space (Rescue Agieenenl, 1968)
5
and olhei agieenenls such as lhe
Convenlion on InleinalionaI LialiIily foi Danage Caused ly Space Oljecls (Space LialiIily
Convenlion, 1972)
6
aie lvo olhei inpoilanl liealies in lhis iegaid. The UN has aIso
1
See hllp://vvv.consiIiun.euiopa.eu/uedocs/cnsUpIoad/sl14455.en1O.pdf, accessed on }anuaiy
12, 2O12.
2
Micah Zenko, A Code of Conducl foi Oulei Space, IoIicy Innovalion Menoiandun No. 1O,
avaiIalIe al hllp://vvv.cfi.oig/space/code-conducl-oulei-space/p26556, accessed on }une15,
2O12.
3
hllp://vvv.opanaI.oig/Docs/Desaine/TD/OuleiSpace_Tiealy.pdf, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
4
hllp://vvv.oosa.unvienna.oig/pdf/pulIicalions/STSIACL11L.pdf, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
5
hllp://vvv.oosa.unvienna.oig/oosa/SpaceLav/iescue.hlnI, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
6
hllp://vvv.oosa.unvienna.oig/oosa/SpaceLav/IialiIily.hlnI, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
# IDSA Issue iief
undeilaken vaiious inilialives Iike lhe Connillee on lhe IeacefuI Uses of Oulei Space
(COIUOS, 1959)
7
and Iievenlion of an Ains Race in Oulei Space (IAROS, 1982). The
UN has pioduced vaiious CeneiaI AssenlIy ResoIulions, Meelings, Confeience on
Disainanenl (CD) voiking papeis, elc., on lhe issue.
In iecenl lines, apail fion lhe LU-sponsoied CoC, lvo olhei inilialives have cone lo lhe
foie. One, a ModeI Code of Conducl piepaied ly lhe Slinson Cenlei
8
vas nade avaiIalIe
foi discussion and delale duiing Oclolei 2OO7. Tvo, in Ieliuaiy 2OO8, Russia and China
pul on lhe lalIe a diafl of lhe Iievenlion of lhe IIacenenl of Weapons in Oulei Space
Tiealy (IIWT),
9
an inleinalionaI, IegaIIy linding liealy lhal vouId lan lhe veaponizalion
of Space. Neilhei of lhese inilialives has geneialed nuch inleiesl. IiolalIy, lhe IIWT has
leen vieved as a Tiealy lhal aIIovs Russia and China lo doninale inleinalionaI pulIic
dipIonacy. The liggesl shoilconing of lhis Tiealy in lhal il is siIenl aloul giound-lased
nissiIes lhal can deslioy saleIIiles in Space. In addilion, il is aIso leing vieved as an allenpl
lo pul piessuie on lhe US nissiIe defence pIans. The Slinson Cenlei CoC, on lhe olhei
hand, foIIovs a veiy sinpIislic appioach and nol a liadilionaI delaiIed appioach.
AIso, in 2OO9, a Woiking Iapei on TCMs foi Space Secuiily vas piesenled ly Canada lo
lhe CD.
1O
The papei aigues lhal lhe CD shouId considei secuiily guaianlees, such as a
decIaialion of IegaI piincipIes, a code of conducl, oi a liealy lanning lhe pIacenenl of
veapons in Space in any foin.
Anongsl aII lhese inilialives lhe LU-foinuIaled InleinalionaI CoC foi Oulei Space has
found noie acceplaliIily fion lhe poinl of viev of discussions. The LU has nov officiaIIy
legun lhe piocess of negolialions lo lake lhis piocess foivaid.
CoC for Outer Space Activities (2010)
The LU Code
11
is aloul neasuies lo le undeilaken lovaids enhancing lhe pioleclion foi
vaiious aclivilies in Oulei Space. Il is ained al endoising lesl piaclices and undeilaking
confidence luiIding neasuies lhiough a seiies of voIunlaiy discIosuies aloul lhe Space
agendas of slales, as puisued ly lolh goveinnenlaI and non-goveinnenlaI enlilies.
7
hllp://vvv.oosa.unvienna.oig/oosa/COIUOS/copuos.hlnI, accessed on }un28, 2O12.
8
hllp://vvv.slinson.oig/ieseaich-pages/nodeI-code-of-conducl/, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
9
hllp://vvv.cfi.oig/space/liealy-pievenlion-pIacenenl-veapons-oulei-space-lhieal-use-foice-
againsl-oulei-space-oljecls-ppvl/p26678, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
1O
hl l p: //vvv. unog. c h/8 O 2 5 6 LDDO O 6 8 9 5 4 /( hl l pAs s e l s ) /C4 O DO 9 2 L5 I3 7 A9
CC12575ICOO3CL37/$fiIe/CD_1865_L.pdf, accessed on }une 28, 2O12.
11
See hllp://vvv.consiIiun.euiopa.eu/uedocs/cnsUpIoad/sl14455.en1O.pdf, accessed on }anuaiy
12, 2O12.
DeIileialing lhe Space Code of Conducl
e
%
The sulsciiling slales aie expecled lo lake appiopiiale neasuies lo avoid accidenls/
coIIisions in Space lelveen oljecls and aIso lo avoid any foin of hainfuI inleifeience in
Iegilinale aclivilies undeilaken in Space. Slales aie aIso expecled lo ienain connilled
lovaids Iiniling lhe ciealion of Space deliis. The CoC expecls nenlei slales lo iegislei
Space oljecls and piovide lineIy infoinalion vilh iegaid lo lheii Iaunch scheduIes, vaiious
pioposed space nanoeuvies, coIIisions/lieak-ups in oilil, ie-enliy evenls, Space
enviionnenlaI condilions, elc. In addilion, slales aie iequiied lo shaie lheii Space poIicies
and slialegies. The code aIso has piovisions Iike lienniaI neelings, ciealion of an eIeclionic
dalalase and connunicalion syslens, elc.
Acceptability
The najoiily of counliies vilh inleiesls in Space, incIuding AusliaIia, Canada, and }apan,
have suppoiled lhis inleinalionaI code.
12
The nosl poveifuI Space-faiing slale, lhe Uniled
Slales, has decided lo join lhe negolialions on lhe CoC. Hovevei, il does nol piopose lo
enlei inlo any nechanisn lhal in any vay consliains ils nalionaI secuiily-ieIaled aclivilies
in Space oi ils aliIily lo piolecl ilseIf oi ils aIIies.
13
The US has announced lhal il vouId nol
sulsciile lo any code lhal vouId le IegaIIy linding.
14
Il vievs lhe CoC as a good foundalion
focused on lhe use of voIunlaiy and piagnalic Tianspaiency and Confidence uiIding
Measuies (TCMs) lo heIp pievenl nishaps, nispeiceplions and nisliusl in Space.
15
The
US niIilaiy is aIso keen lo join lhe Code lecause lhey feeI lhal il vouId liing giealei
lianspaiency inlo lhe syslen. Accoiding lo lhen, lhe sheei voIune of Space~fion
geosynchionous oilil dovn lo lhe eailhs suiface~is aloul 73 liiIIion culic niIes. They do
nol have syslens lhal couId keep a lal on novenenl of eveiy lioken piece of oId saleIIiles,
deliis fion coIIisions oi expIosions, and so on.
16
Hence, lhey viev lhe CoC as an ideaI
12
Micah Zenko, A Code of Conducl foi Oulei Space, IoIicy Innovalion Menoiandun No. 1O,
avaiIalIe al hllp://vvv.cfi.oig/space/code-conducl-oulei-space/p26556, accessed on }une15,
2O12.
13
HiIIaiy Rodhan CIinlon, InleinalionaI Code of Conducl foi Oulei Space Aclivilies, Iiess
Slalenenl, Washinglon DC, }anuaiy 17, 2O12, avaiIalIe al hllp://vvv.slale.gov/secielaiy/in/
2O12/O1/18O969.hln, accessed on }une14, 2O12.
14
Slalenenl ly Rose CollenoeIIei, Acling Undei Secielaiy of Slale foi Ains ConlioI and InleinalionaI
Secuiily Washinglon, Maich 14, 2O12, hllp://vvv.nylines.con/2O12/O3/16/opinion/a-code-
foi-oulei-space-as-seen-fion-lhe-slale-depl.hlnI, accessed on May 1O, 2O12.
15
Renaiks ly Iiank A. Rose, Depuly Assislanl Secielaiy, uieau of Ains ConlioI, Veiificalion and
ConpIiance, Space SuslainaliIily Thiough InleinalionaI Coopeialion, al lhe InleinalionaI
Synposiun on SuslainalIe Space DeveIopnenl and UliIizalion foi Hunankind: OililaI Space
Deliis~ChaIIenges and Oppoilunilies, Tokyo, }apan, Maich 1, 2O12, avaiIalIe al hllp://
vvv.slale.gov/l/avc/iIs/184897.hln, accessed on }une 18, 2O12.
16
Sydney }. Iieedleig }i., Safe Iassage: Why The Ienlagon Wanls An InleinalionaI 'Code Of Conducl
Ioi Space, avaiIalIe al hllp://defense.aoI.con/2O12/O3/22/safe-passage-vhy-lhe-penlagon-
vanls-an-inleinalionaI-code-of-c/, accessed on }une 18, 2O12.
& IDSA Issue iief
insliunenl lo deaI vilh lhe issues ieIaled lo Space deliis and Space SilualionaI Avaieness
(SSA)~a nelvoik of iadais, leIescopes and olhei insliunenls lo liace Space deliis.
Opposilion lo a CoC foi Space is expecled lo aiise piolalIy fion olhei najoi Space-faiing
slales Iike Russia and China. These slales have aIieady nade lheii poIilicaI and dipIonalic
posluiing ly pioposing an inleinalionaI liealy~lhe IIWT-in 2OO8.
India is yel lo piesenl ils posilion on lhis issue and has nol nade any slalenenl eilhei in
suppoil of oi againsl lhe CoC. Il is inpoilanl lo nole lhal India has leen foIIoving lhe UN
Space Deliis Miligalion CuideIines (2OO8) veiy syslenalicaIIy. India is againsl lhe
veaponisalion of Space.
y and Iaige, vaiious slales have leen laking pail in lhe UN COIUOS discussions on lhe
Long-lein SuslainaliIily of Oulei Space Aclivilies. Lven lhough China conducled an Anli-
saleIIile (ASAT) lesl in 2OO7, il is keen lo foin a liealy iegine foi Oulei Space and is
(oveilIy) againsl lhe idea of veaponisalion of space. olh Russia and China have line and
again expiessed conceins aloul lhe US appioach lovaids evoIving space secuiily
nechanisn. They undeisland lhal lhe deveIopnenl of any sliingenl space iegine vouId
go againsl lhe US nissiIe defence piogianne, and hence lhe US is unIikeIy lo suppoil any
IegaIIy linding nechanisn on lhis issue.
Decoding the Code
The pioposed diafl of lhe Code has a pieanlIe highIighling lhe inpoilance of lhe issue
and foui najoi seclions coveiing vaiious iequisile eIenenls of lhe Code. They aie:
1. Iuipose, Scope and Coie IiincipIes
2. CeneiaI Measuies
3. Coopeialion Mechanisn
4. OiganisalionaI Aspecls
Adheience lo lhis Code is voIunlaiy. The Code expecls slales lo conpIy vilh vaiious exisling
liealies and convenlions on Oulei Space aclivilies (AilicIe 3.1). SuipiisingIy, il aIso asks
17
Renaiks ly Iiank A. Rose, Depuly Assislanl Secielaiy, uieau of Ains ConlioI, Veiificalion and
ConpIiance, Space SuslainaliIily Thiough InleinalionaI Coopeialion, al lhe InleinalionaI
Synposiun on SuslainalIe Space DeveIopnenl and UliIizalion foi Hunankind: OililaI Space
Deliis~ChaIIenges and Oppoilunilies, Tokyo, }apan, Maich 1, 2O12, avaiIalIe al hllp://
vvv.slale.gov/l/avc/iIs/184897.hln, accessed on }une 18, 2O12.
18
ased on aulhois inleiaclions vilh expeils.
DeIileialing lhe Space Code of Conducl
e
'
signaloiies lo pionise lo foIIov lhe Conpiehensive NucIeai Tesl an Tiealy (CTT, 1996),
vhich acluaIIy does nol seive any puipose. The CTT is aloul lanning nucIeai expIosions
in aII enviionnenls. NaluiaIIy, one of lhe enviionnenls is expecled lo le Oulei Space.
Hovevei, connilnenl lo lhe OST, 1967, aIieady caleis foi lhal and hence lheie is no need
lo incIude cIauses invoIving conlioveisiaI nechanisns Iike lhe CTT. AIleinaliveIy, a noie
ieIevanl liealy (foined undei lhe UN aegis), lhe Moon Tiealy (1979), has nol leen
nenlioned. Such an onission is olvious lecause no najoi Space-faiing nalion is a signaloiy
lo lhis Tiealy (India has signed lul nol yel ialified lhis Tiealy). Wilh lhe incieasing focus
on Moon Missions in lhe 21sl cenluiy ly vaiious slales, il vouId le incoiiecl lo leIieve lhal
lhe Moon has no diiecl ieIevance lo cuiienl Space aclivilies.
AIso, expecling IoyaIly lo lhe InleinalionaI Code of Conducl (ICoC)/The Hague
Code of Conducl (HCoC) does nol seive nuch puipose as lhis is nol going lo iesliicl lhe
aclivilies of slales such as Iian and Noilh Koiea in any vay.
AilicIe 4.1 of lhe Code nenlions slales aie expecled lo evoIve lheii ovn poIicies and
pioceduies lo nininize lhe possiliIilies of accidenls in Space. This is a vaIid suggeslion.
Hovevei, il is inpoilanl lo evoIve a gIolaI slialegy lo ieduce lhe chances of accidenls in
Space lecause saleIIiles do nol foIIov geogiaphicaI loundaiies as denaicaled on Lailh.
Hence, addiessing lhe issue in isoIalion (i.e., al lhe IeveI of lhe individuaI slale) nay nol le
of nuch heIp.
The issues ieIaled lo lhe nolificalion of Oulei Space aclivilies aie coveied in AilicIe 6. This
segnenl is a pail of lhe oveiaII 'coopeialion nechanisns idenlified in lhis diafl Code.
This seclion couId le vieved as lhe heail of lhis diafl Code lecause il invoIves shaiing of
infoinalion on Oulei Space aclivilies.
As pei AilicIe 6.1, slales aie expecled lo iepoil chances of coIIisions, lieak-ups in oilil,
naIfunclioning and piedicled ie-enliy of Space oljecls. Il is inpoilanl lo nole lhal loday
incieasing nunleis of slales aie leconing ovneis of saleIIiles syslens, hovevei, lhey aII
do nol possess lhe lechnicaI and olseivalionaI capaliIilies lo anlicipale such evenls. This
liings lhe inpoilance of space silualionaI avaieness (SSA) lo lhe foie. Il is inpoilanl lo
eslalIish a syslen foi pioviding nolificalion of such evenls al lhe gIolaI IeveI.
AilicIe 8.1 coveis lhe shaiing of infoinalion on Oulei Space aclivilies. One key denand of
lhis ailicIe is lhal slales shouId piovide infoinalion on secuiily- and defence-ieIaled
aclivilies in space. Il is unIikeIy lhal aII slales vouId le keen lo piovide such infoinalion
eilhei on a voIunlaiy lasis oi olheivise. AilicIe 8.2 is aloul pioviding infoinalion on
Space enviionnenlaI condilions coIIecled ly SSA nelvoiks of lhe slale. IiesenlIy, apail
fion lhe US, no olhei slale has dedicaled SSA infiasliucluie. Sone slales couId ieceive
sone infoinalion on lhe Space enviionnenl (e.g., novenenl of deliis) lecause of lhe
piesence of iadai nelvoiks deveIoped/eslalIished ly lhen foi slialegic puiposes. Il nay
nol le aIvays possilIe foi lhese slales lo discIose lhe infoinalion galheied lecause of lhe
( IDSA Issue iief
seciecy associaled vilh lhe souice of olseivalion. This again highIighls lhe need foi a
univeisaI SSA aichilecluie.
Il is aIso inpoilanl foi lhe Code of Conducl lo nake piovisions vilh iegaid lo
Space vealhei. Space vealhei is of pailicuIai concein lo lhe Iong lein suslainaliIily of
oui space aclivilies. esides lhe diiecl hazaid il poses lo eailh-oililing saleIIiles, space
vealhei evenls giealIy conpIicales SSA and coIIision pievenlion.
17
The diafl Code has
nade piovisions foi lhe Oulei Space aclivilies dalalase (AilicIe 12, vhich couId aIso
nainlain lhe iecoid of lhe vealhei). Lveiy slale having saleIIile assels nay nol have lhe
infiasliucluie foi noniloiing and foiecasling Space vealhei. Hovevei, il is inpoilanl lo
nake lhis infoinalion avaiIalIe in line lo eveiyone, and SSA aichilecluie oi a sepaiale
syslen undei lhe WoiId MeleoioIogicaI Oiganisalion (WMO) couId le eslalIished foi lhe
sane.
The lasic Iinilalion of lhis diafl Code appeais lo le ils inadequacy in addiessing fuluie
issues. Il is inpoilanl lo appieciale lhal, aIong vilh lhe nunlei of exisling chaIIenges, lhe
Code shouId aIso calei foi inpending issues. A sinpIislic appioach lo addiess such
chaIIenges (as and vhen lhey aiise) is lhiough lhe nechanisn of lienniaI neelings of
sulsciiling slales (AilicIe 1O). Hovevei, lheie is a need lo devise a nininun lasic sliucluie
vhiIe foinuIaling lhe Code. Mining of Asleioids and lhe Moon and Mais foi expIoiling
iav naleiiaIs and nineiaIs is expecled lo lecone a ieaIily. Il is inpoilanl lo have cIaiily
aloul lhe ovneiship of such iesouices. Iuilheinoie, lheie aie indicalions lhal aIong vilh
space louiisn in Lov Lailh Oilil (LLO), a possiliIily aIso exisls foi piivale liaveI in deep
space iegion (Moon Mission). TechnoIogy is expecled lo deveIop in aieas Iike Space eIevalois,
Space soIai povei, and aiiloine Iaseis (foi lhe loosl phase kiII of ICMs), elc. The issue of
Space-lased veapons is doinanl al lhis poinl in line lul lheie aie no guaianlees foi lhe
fuluie. IiesenlIy, no sliicl piovisions aie avaiIalIe in lhe Code lo addiess issues Iike counlei-
Space aliIilies. WhiIe il vouId le incoiiecl lo expecl lhe Code lo offei issue-specific soIulions
foi IikeIy fuluie evenls, vhal is inpoilanl is lhal lhe Code needs lo le cognizanl of lhese
ieaIilies.
Options for India
Il is inpoilanl lhal India devises a poIicy lased on ils exisling and pioposed Space agenda,
ils secuiily iequiienenls and lhe inleiesls of ils Space indusliy. Il is aIso inpoilanl foi
India lo considei lhe Iaigei issue of Space secuiily and lhe need lo pievenl Space
veaponisalion. Counlei-Space syslens aie nol lhe noin in piesenl-day niIilaiy haidvaie,
lul since Space is leing visuaIized as a fouilh dinension of vaifaie lheie aie no guaianlees
foi lhe fuluie. India is yel lo announce ils officiaI posilion vilh iegaid lo lhe pioposed
diafl Code. If India pioposes lo join lhe nuIliIaleiaI expeils neeling of Oclolei 2O12 in
Nev Yoik, lhen il couId considei sone of lhe conlenlions discussed heie.
The delale on lhe Space CoC so fai indicales lhal sone slales aie in agieenenl aloul
DeIileialing lhe Space Code of Conducl
e
)
devising a voIunlaiy and non-linding nechanisn. Hovevei, lhe Iegilinacy of such
piovisions couId aIvays le queslioned. The hisloiy of non-linding nechanisns Iike lhe
HCoC indicales lhal lhey have Iiniled uliIily. Il is inpoilanl lo appieciale lhal since lhe
donain of Space offeis a Iaige nunlei of lenefils in civiIian, conneiciaI and niIilaiy
seclois, lhieals lo lhe Space enviionnenl aie IikeIy lo inciease in lhe coning yeais. In viev
of lhis, lheie is a need lo have a iespeclalIe agieenenl on Space issues and a iegine
shouId le evoIved lhal offeis a pioleclion nechanisn lo guaid againsl exisling and
eneiging lhieals. Thus allenpls such as lhe suggesled CoC shouId le veIconed and
piovisions lheieof shouId le delaled.
Ioi eveiy slale, ils ovn inleiesls~geoslialegic and econonic~aie of paianounl inpoilance
and lhey usuaIIy join nuIliIaleiaI aiiangenenls nainIy lo seive lheii ovn inleiesls.
MuIliIaleiaIisn is aII aloul univeisaIIy-accepled olIigalions, vhich couId le noiaIIy oi
IegaIIy linding. Ovei lhe yeais, il has leen olseived~in a lioad sense~lhal piovisions of
inleinalionaI liealies and olhei siniIai nechanisns vilh condilions annexed, and having
a penaIly foi non-fuIfiInenl, geneiaIIy give lellei iesuIls. A poIilicaI agieenenl ly a slale
lo join a nuIliIaleiaI nechanisn vilhoul any IegaI olIigalion suffeis fion vaiious
Iinilalions, lhese aie Iess liuslvoilhy and non-seiious aiiangenenls. In ceilain cases, il
couId lecone difficuIl lo devise a IegaIIy-linding pioposaI, piolalIy lecause of
lechnoIogicaI and financiaI Iinilalions. Hovevei, il is inpoilanl lo iecognise lhal such
difficuIlies couId, al Ieasl, le pailiaIIy oveicone vilh noie effoils.
IiesenlIy, lhe aigunenl given vilh iegaid lo lhe Oulei Space CoC is lhal allaining linding
slalus is nol a ieaIislic oplion (lecause of lechnicaI and geopoIilicaI ieasons), and,
pailicuIaiIy, lhe US vouId onIy lecone a pail of any nechanisn lhal is non-linding in
naluie, and hence il vouId le unpioduclive lo push foi a linding nechanisn.
18
Nov, lhe
queslion lhal India needs ask is: Is lhe LU pioposing a nechanisn lo suil lhe US inleiesls
oi foi lhe puiposes of achieving space secuiily` Il is nol necessaiy lhal eveiy (Space) non-
pioIifeialion iegine shouId le incIusive lo such exlenl lhal aII najoi Space-faiing nalions
shouId le pail of il (lhis nay le desiialIe lul definileIy nol necessaiy and, noie inpoilanlIy,
achievalIe). In lhe nucIeai aiena, loo, nol aII nucIeai veapon slales aie nenleis of lhe
Non-IioIifeialion Tiealy (NIT).
The Oulei Space CoC is aloul asking slales lo piovide infoinalion aloul lheii ongoing
and pioposed space aclivilies and fuluie pIans. Il is done vilh a viev lo liing lianspaiency
inlo lhe syslen and guaid againsl lhe evenluaI veaponisalion of Space. The lasic puipose
lehind CoC gels defealed if insufficienl, inaccuiale and iiieguIai infoinalion is piovided
ly slales. Space is one aiena vheie lhe piesence of a saleIIile, once il is Iaunched, usuaIIy
cannol le hidden. Hovevei, foi piedicling lhe possiliIily of any IikeIy Space coIIision il is
inpoilanl lo have knovIedge of vaiious paianeleis ieIaling lo lhal saleIIile such as oilil
posilion, speed, any pIans foi incieasing oi decieasing lhe oilil aIlilude, elc. No slale
vouId Iike lo shaie lechnicaI infoinalion vhich couId le used lo undeisland, and piole
* IDSA Issue iief
noie deepIy inlo, ils scienlific and lechnoIogicaI capaliIilies.
A linding nechanisn couId heIp lo inslilule a syslen of liusl anongsl lhe nenleis and
vouId aIso keep lhen iesponsilIe lo lhe CoC nandale. Making slales accounlalIe lo lhe
CoC vouId have ils ovn advanlages. Il vouId enhance ils puipose and goaIs and vouId
alliacl slales having genuine inleiesl in achieving Space secuiily and couId expose fence
silleis. India, leing an inpoilanl pIayei in lhe Space aiena, needs lo Iolly foi a lianspaienl
and linding CoC, vhich vouId evenluaIIy heIp in ieaIizing Space secuiily.
Conclusion
The InleinalionaI CoC foi Oulei Space Aclivilies is an inpoilanl slep lovaids naking
Oulei Space noie safe and secuie foi lhe conducl of vaiious opeialions. The Code has
coiieclIy idenlified vaiious issues foi lhe nolificalion of Oulei Space aclivilies ly lhe slales.
This CoC has leen viillen vilh lhe ain of ensuiing lhe secuiily, safely and suslainaliIily
of aII Oulei Space aclivilies. This iaises lhe queslion vhelhei lhe CoC has lhe polenliaI lo
fuIfiI lhis ain. Il appeais lhal, in ils piesenl ,0,1,., lhe CoC is nol capalIe of ieaIizing lhis
diean fuIIy. This is nainIy lecause lhe Code Iacks an accounlaliIily nechanisn.
Undeilaking confidence-luiIding neasuies lhiough a seiies of voIunlaiy discIosuies is IikeIy
lo have Iiniled uliIily and vouId nol heIp lo idenlify lhe lad sheep and lhis, in lhe Iong
iun, couId le deliinenlaI lo oveiaII Space secuiily. Il is inpoilanl lo appieciale lhal ciealing
an ineffeclive non-pioIifeialion insliunenl is in nolodys inleiesl.