Are New International Treaties or Principles Needed?
The United States is a party to four U.N. treaties that regulate space activities: the Outer Space Treaty, the Astronaut Rescue and Return Agreement, the Registration Convention, and the Liability Convention. None of the major space faring countries, including the United States, is a party to a fifth U.N. space treaty, the Moon Agreement, which focuses on exploitation of the Moon.17 A brief synopsis of the five space treaties is included in Appendix 2. The U.N. also developed several legal principles for space activities, including Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space, that could impact exploration plans. Even before President Bush’s announcement, some observers were suggesting that it was time to review the space treaties to determine if any changes or new agreements are needed to reflect the growing role of the private sector in space. The treaties were negotiated in an era when space programs were conducted by governments, not private entities. Ther
