Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched

into Outer Space

WHEN THE DUTY ARISES

The obligation of a contracting party immediately to take "all pos�s�ible" s�teps� to res�cue s�pacecraft
pers�onnel and render "all neces�s�ary" as�s�is�tance to them, aris�es� only if the troubles�ome landing takes�
place in territory under the juris�diction of s�uch party.

Should the s�pacecraft pers�onnel alight on the high s�eas�, or in any other place not under the juris�diction
of any s�tate, the s�ole obligation is� to "extend as�s�is�tance," if the s�ignatory is� in a pos�ition to do s�o, and
then only if s�uch as�s�is�tance is� "neces�s�ary" to as�s�ure s�peedy res�cue.'

SPACE OBJECTS

The Agreement als�o extends� its� protective s�hield to objects� launched into outer s�pace, to as�s�ure their
recovery and return. The relevant s�tipulations� center around the requirements� of notification, recovery,
return, elimination of pos�s�ible danger or harm from hazardous� or deleterious� objects�, and expens�es�."

NOTIFICATION

The notifcation requirement aris�es� upon receipt of information

or dis�covery by a contracting party that a s�pace object or its� component parts� has� returned to Earth in
territory under its� juris�diction or on the high s�eas� or in any other place not under the juris�diction ofany
s�tate."

Meaning of "Space Object" and its� "Component Parts�"

A "s�pace object" may mean any object which was� des�igned to be launched into outer s�pace, s�uch as� for
ins�tance, a s�pace rocket, s�pacecraft, s�paces�hip or s�pace laboratory.22 The component parts� of a s�pace
object would include all elements� normally regarded as� making up the s�pace object, including fuel tanks�
and perhaps� even the fuel its�elf.

RECOVERY

The contracting party's� obligation to recover a s�pace object aris�es� upon the dis�covery of s�uch an object
or its� component parts� on the territory of s�uch party and only upon the reques�t of the launching
authority and only on the condition that the launching authority its�elf provides� as�s�is�tance if its� help is�
reques�ted.28 Thus�, there is� no recovery obligation or duty to provide as�s�is�tance in recovering a s�pace
object, no matter where the object may have been dis�covered, s�o long as� s�uch dis�covery occurred
outs�ide of the territorial juris�diction of the contracting party. Even within the territorial juris�diction,
there is� no recovery obligation in cas�e of hazardous� or deleterious� objects�.24

Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects

Convention provides� that a launching State s�hall be abs�olutely liable to pay compens�ation for damage
caus�ed by its� s�pace objects� on the s�urface of the Earth or to aircraft, and liable for damage due to its�
faults� in s�pace. The Convention als�o provides� for procedures� for the s�ettlement of claims� for damages�.

States� (countries�) bear international res�pons�ibility for all s�pace objects� that are launched within their
territory. This� means� that regardles�s� of who launches� the s�pace object, if it was� launched from State A's�
territory, or from State A's� facility, or if State A caus�ed the launch to happen, then State A is� fully liable
for damages� that res�ult from that s�pace object.

Joint launches�

If two s�tates� work together to launch a s�pace object, then both of thos�e s�tates� are jointly and s�everally
liable for the damage that object caus�es�. This� means� that the injured party can s�ue either of the two
s�tates� for the full amount of damage.

Claims� between s�tates� only

Claims� under the Liability Convention mus�t be brought by the s�tate agains�t a s�tate. The Convention was�
created to s�upplement exis�ting and future national laws� providing compens�ation to parties� injured by
s�pace activities�. Whereas� under mos�t national legal s�ys�tems� an individual or a corporation may bring a
laws�uit agains�t another individual or another corporation, under the Liability Convention claims� mus�t be
brought on the s�tate level only. This� means� that if an individual is� injured by a s�pace object and wis�hes� to
s�eek compens�ation under the Liability Convention, the individual mus�t arrange for his� or her country to
make a claim agains�t the country that launched the s�pace object that caus�ed the damage.

Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space

The convention requires� s�tates� to furnis�h to the United Nations� with details� about the orbit of each
s�pace object. A regis�try of launchings� was� already being maintained by the United Nations� as� a res�ult of
a General As�s�embly Res�olution in 1962.
The regis�ter is� kept by the United Nations� Office for Outer Space Affairs� (UNOOSA) and includes�[:

Name of launching State

An appropriate des�ignator of the s�pace object or its� regis�tration number

Date and territory or location of launch

Bas�ic orbital parameters� (Nodal period, Inclination, Apogee and Perigee)

General function of the s�pace object

Article II

1. When a s�pace object is� launched into Earth orbit or beyond, the launching State s�hall regis�ter the
s�pace object by means� of an entry in an appropriate regis�try which it s�hall maintain. Each launching State
s�hall inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations� of the es�tablis�hment of s�uch a regis�try.

Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

As� a follow-on to the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon Treaty intended to es�tablis�h a regime for the us�e of
the Moon and other celes�tial bodies� s�imilar to the one es�tablis�hed for the s�ea floor in the United Nations�
Convention on the Law of the Sea. The treaty would apply to the Moon and to other celes�tial bodies�
within the Solar Sys�tem, other than Earth, including orbits� around or other trajectories� to or around
them.

The treaty makes� a declaration that the Moon s�hould be us�ed for the benefit of all s�tates� and all peoples�
of the international community. It als�o expres�s�es� a des�ire to prevent the Moon from becoming a s�ource
of international conflict. To thos�e ends� the treaty does� the following:

 Bans any military use of celestial bodies, including weapon testing or as military bases.
 Bans all exploration and uses of celestial bodies without the approval or benefit of other
states under the common heritage of mankind principle (article 11).
 Requires that the Secretary-General must be notified of all celestial activities (and discoveries
developed thanks to those activities).
 Declares all states have an equal right to conduct research on celestial bodies.
  Declares that for any samples obtained during research activities, the state that obtained them
must consider making part of it available to all countries/scientific communities for research.
 Bans altering the environment of celestial bodies and requires that states must take measures
to prevent accidental contamination of the environments of celestial bodies, including Earth.
 Bans any state from claiming sovereignty over any territory of celestial bodies.
 Bans any ownership of any extraterrestrial property by any organization or person, unless that
organization is international and governmental.
 Requires an international regime be set up to ensure safe and orderly development and
management of the resources and sharing of the benefits from them.

Rights, Jurisdiction and Duties of Coastal State in the

PART V

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

Article55

Specific legal regime of the exclus�ive economic zone

The exclus�ive economic zone is� an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial s�ea, s�ubject to the s�pecific
legal regime es�tablis�hed in this� Part, under which the rights� and juris�diction of the coas�tal State and the
rights� and freedoms� of other States� are governed by the relevant provis�ions� of this� Convention.

Article56
Rights�, juris�diction and duties� of the coas�tal State in the exclus�ive economic zone

1. In the exclus�ive economic zone, the coas�tal State has�:

(a) s�overeign rights� for the purpos�e of exploring and exploiting, cons�erving and managing the
natural res�ources�, whether living or non-living, of the waters� s�uperjacent to the s�eabed and of the
s�eabed and its� s�ubs�oil, and with regard to other activities� for the economic exploitation and exploration
of the zone, s�uch as� the production of energy from the water, currents� and winds�;

(b) juris�diction as� provided for in the relevant provis�ions� of this� Convention with regard to:

(i) the es�tablis�hment and us�e of artificial is�lands�, ins�tallations� and s�tructures�;

(ii) marine s�cientific res�earch;

(iii) the protection and pres�ervation of the marine environment;

(c) other rights� and duties� provided for in this� Convention.

2. In exercis�ing its� rights� and performing its� duties� under this� Convention in the exclus�ive economic
zone, the coas�tal State s�hall have due regard to the rights� and duties� of other States� and s�hall act in a
manner compatible with the provis�ions� of this� Convention.

Article58

Rights� and duties� of other States� in the exclus�ive economic zone

1. In the exclus�ive economic zone, all States�, whether coas�tal or land-locked, enjoy, s�ubject to the
relevant provis�ions� of this� Convention, the freedoms� referred to in article 87 of navigation and overflight
and of the laying of s�ubmarine cables� and pipelines�, and other internationally lawful us�es� of the s�ea
related to thes�e freedoms�, s�uch as� thos�e as�s�ociated with the operation of s�hips�, aircraft and s�ubmarine
cables� and pipelines�, and compatible with the other provis�ions� of this� Convention.