Legal Texts

United Nations Treaties, Principles and Resolutions on Outer Space

United Nations Treaties

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the Secretariat for the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which is the primary international forum for the development of laws and principles governing outer space.

• Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

• Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space

• Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects

• Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space

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

Principles Adopted by the General Assembly

• Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space (General Assembly resolution 1962 (XVIII) of 13 December 1963)

• Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International Direct Television Broadcasting (General Assembly resolution 37/92 of 10 December 1982)

• Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space (General Assembly resolution 41/65 of 3 December 1986)

• Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (General Assembly resolution 47/68 of 14 December 1992)

• Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries (General Assembly resolution 51/122 of 13 December 1996)

Related Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly

• Resolution 59/115 of 10 December 2004: Application of the concept of the “launching State”

• Resolution 62/101 of 17 December 2007: Recommendations on enhancing the practice of States and international intergovernmental organizations in registering space objects

• Resolution 68/74 of 11 December 2013: Recommendations on national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space

Other Documents

• Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 2007, endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 62/217

• Safety Framework for Nuclear Power Source Application in Outer Space, 2009

• Guidance on Space Object Registration and Frequency Management for Small and Very Small Satellites, 2015, prepared by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• Compendium of space debris mitigation standards adopted by States and international organizations, a contribution of Canada, the Czech Republic and Germany to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

• Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 2019

Status of International Agreements Relating to Activities in Outer Space

The status of international agreements relating to activities in outer space is compiled and regularly updated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The most recent compilation is available on the Office’s website.

Austrian Space Legislation

• Austrian Federal Law on the Authorisation of Space Activities and the Establishment of a National Space Registry – Austrian Outer Space Act (Bundesgesetz über die Genehmigung von Weltraumaktivitäten und die Einrichtung eines Weltraumregisters) adopted by the National Council on 6 December 2011, entered into force on 28 December 2011

• Explanatory Report to the Austrian Outer Space Act

• Regulation of the Austrian Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology for the Implementation of the Austrian Federal Law on the Authorisation of Space Activities and the Establishment of a National Space Registry – Austrian Outer Space Regulation (Verordnung der Bundesministerin/des Bundesministers für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie zur Durchführung des Bundesgesetzes über die Genehmigung von Weltraumaktivitäten und die Einrichtung eines Weltraumregisters – Weltraumverordnung) entered into force on 27 February 2015 (unofficial translation)

• Explanatory Report to the Austrian Outer Space Regulation (German Version)