Space Law Treaties and Principles

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is the forum for the development of international space law. The Committee has concluded five international treaties and five sets of principles on space-related activities.

These five treaties deal with issues such as the non-appropriation of outer space by any one country, arms control, the freedom of exploration, liability for damage caused by space objects, the safety and rescue of spacecraft and astronauts, the prevention of harmful interference with space activities and the environment, the notification and registration of space activities, scientific investigation and the exploitation of natural resources in outer space and the settlement of disputes.

Each of the treaties stresses the notion that outer space, the activities carried out in outer space and whatever benefits might be accrued from outer space should be devoted to enhancing the well-being of all countries and humankind, with an emphasis on promoting international cooperation.

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The treaties commonly referred to as the "five United Nations treaties on outer space" are:

Click here to find out how many states have ratified the treaties!

The five declarations and legal principles are:

At the end of the year 2022, the Office for Outer Space Affairs launched a new database, called  Accessing Space Treaty Resources Online (ASTRO). The platform serves as a database of international space instruments, including five United Nations treaties on outer space and their ratification status, and principles adopted by the General Assembly.