Picture this: it’s 1969 and commandeer Neil Armstrong and his lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin are taking the first steps of mankind. Upon this revolutionary scene, the two astronauts spontaneously decide to call the moon their home and claim it for themselves. This could have been the case if we didn’t have space laws. These laws clearly state that no one is to gain ownership of any space object or body of matter. As humans’ presence in the cosmos increases, we’ve had to set laws to ensure that locations like the International Space Station remain neutral and that we don’t wage wars over uninhabitable tracts of Martian desert. The international community has joined together and developed space exploration safety requirements and laws to prevent the final frontier from being the next Wild West. So, what exactly are these space laws, and why are they important? The UNOOSA (United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs) states that “The primary goals of space law are to ensure a rational, responsible approach to the exploration and use of outer space for the benefit and in the interests of all humankind.” And space law “addresses a variety of diverse matters such as … [the] preservation of the space and Earth environment, liability for damages caused by space objects, settlement of disputes, protection of national interests, rescue of astronauts, sharing of information about potential dangers in outer space, use of space-related technologies, and international cooperation.” Space laws address a wide range of issues, including the preservation of the space and Earth environments, liability for damages caused by space objects, the prevention of potential disputes, the rescue of astronauts, the sharing of information about potential dangers in outer space, the use of space-related technologies, and international cooperation. A number of fundamental principles underlie the conduct of space activities, including the concept of space as the domain of all humans, the freedom of all states to explore and exploit outer space without discrimination, and the principle of non-appropriation of outer space. In conclusion, though rarely heard about, the treaties and laws that govern space safety are critical.
- Siyara Kilcoyne ‘ 24
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