ABSTRACT

The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 December 1966, opened for signature on 27 January 1967, and entered into force on 10 October 1967. Some speak of the Outer Space Treaty as ‘the Magna Carta of Space’. That sobriquet may betray an ignorance of the detail and history of the Magna Carta of 1215. Although other articles have an application to activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies (particular the contamination and harmful interference provisions of Art. IX) Art. XII is sui generis in the Outer Space Treaty. By far the vast majority of the states whose interests are affected by the Outer Space Treaty are parties to it. In addition twenty-five signatory states are bound by their signatures not to act contrary to the basic thrust of the Treaty.