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Outer Space Treaty (State Department archive text)

U.S. Department of State (archive) · 1967-01-27

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<title>OUTER SPACE TREATY</title>

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<A HREF="space1.html#1">Narrative</a><BR>

<A HREF="space1.html#2">Text</a><BR>

<A HREF="space5.txt">Signatories</a><BR>



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<a name="1">

<h1><center><FONT SIZE=3><STRONG>TREATY ON PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES IN THE

EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE, INCLUDING THE MOON AND

OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES</FONT></STRONG></h1>

</center>



<P>	The Outer Space Treaty, as it is known, was the second of the so-called "nonarmament"

treaties; its concepts and some of its provisions were modeled on its predecessor, the Antarctic

Treaty. Like that Treaty it sought to prevent "a new form of colonial competition" and the

possible damage that self-seeking exploitation might cause.



<P>	In early 1957, even before the launching of Sputnik in October, developments in rocketry led

the United States to propose international verification of the testing of space objects.  The

development of an inspection system for outer space was part of a Western proposal for partial

disarmament put forward in August 1957. The Soviet Union, however, which was in the midst of

testing its first ICBM and was about to orbit its first Earth satellite, did not accept these

proposals.



<P>	Between 1959 and 1962 the Western powers made a series of proposals to bar the use of outer

space for military purposes. Their successive plans for general and complete disarmament

included provisions to ban the orbiting and stationing in outer space of weapons of mass

destruction. Addressing the General Assembly on September 22, 1960, President Eisenhower

proposed that the principles of the Antarctic Treaty be applied to outer space and celestial bodies.



<P>	Soviet plans for general and complete disarmament between 1960 and 1962 included

provisions for ensuring the peaceful use of outer space. The Soviet Union, however, would not

separate outer space from other disarmament issues, nor would it agree to restrict outer space to

peaceful uses unless U.S. foreign bases at which short-range and medium-range missiles were

stationed were eliminated also.



<P>	The Western powers declined to accept the Soviet approach; the linkage, they held, would

upset the military balance and weaken the security of the West.



<P>	After the signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty, the Soviet Unions position changed. It

ceased to link an agreement on outer space with the question of foreign bases. On September 19,

1963, Foreign Minister Gromyko told the General Assembly that the Soviet Union wished to

conclude an agreement banning the orbiting of objects carrying nuclear weapons. Ambassador

Stevenson stated that the United States had no intention of orbiting weapons of mass destruction,

installing them on celestial bodies or stationing them in outer space. The General Assembly

unanimously adopted a resolution on October 17, 1963, welcoming the Soviet and U.S.

statements and calling upon all states to refrain from introducing weapons of mass destruction

into outer space.



<P>	The United States supported the resolution, despite the absence of any provisions for

verification; the capabilities of its space-tracking systems, it was estimated, were adequate for

detecting launchings and devices in orbit.



<P>	Seeking to sustain the momentum for arms control agreements, the United States in 1965 and

1966 pressed for a Treaty that would give further substance to the U.N. resolution.



<P>	On June 16, 1966, both the United States and the Soviet Union submitted draft treaties. The

U.S. draft dealt only with celestial bodies; the Soviet draft covered the whole outer space

environment. The United States accepted the Soviet position on the scope of the Treaty, and by

September agreement had been reached in discussions at Geneva on most Treaty provisions.

Differences on the few remaining issues -- chiefly involving access to facilities on celestial

bodies, reporting on space activities, and the use of military equipment and personnel in space

exploration -- were satisfactorily resolved in private consultations during the General Assembly

session by December.



<P>	On the 19th of that month the General Assembly approved by acclamation a resolution

commending the Treaty. It was opened for signature at Washington, London, and Moscow on

January 27, 1967. On April 25 the Senate gave unanimous consent to its ratification, and the

Treaty entered into force on October 10, 1967.



<P>	The substance of the arms control provisions is in Article IV. This article restricts activities in

two ways:



<P>	<i>First</i>, it contains an undertaking not to place in orbit around the Earth, install on the moon or

any other celestial body, or otherwise station in outer space, nuclear or any other weapons of

mass destruction.



<P>	<i>Second</i>, it limits the use of the moon and other celestial bodies exclusively to peaceful purposes

and expressly prohibits their use for establishing military bases, installation, or fortifications;

testing weapons of any kind; or conducting military maneuvers.



<P>	After the Treaty entered into force, the United States and the Soviet Union collaborated in

jointly planned and manned space enterprises.



<P><a name="2"><HR><BR>

<h1><center><FONT SIZE=3><STRONG>TREATY ON PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES IN THE

EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE, INCLUDING THE MOON AND

OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES</FONT></STRONG></h1>

</center>



<P><i>Signed at Washington, London, Moscow, January 27, 1967<BR>

Ratification advised by U.S. Senate April 25, 1967<BR>

Ratified by U.S. President May 24, 1967<BR>

U.S. ratification deposited at Washington, London, and Moscow October 10, 1967<BR>

Proclaimed by U.S. President October 10, 1967<BR>

Entered into force October 10, 1967<BR>



<P></i>	The States Parties to this Treaty, 



<P>	Inspired by the great prospects opening up before mankind as a result of mans entry into outer

space,



<P>	Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of

outer space for peaceful purposes,



<P>	Believing that the exploration and use of outer space should be carried on for the benefit of all

peoples irrespective of the degree of their economic or scientific development,



<P>	Desiring to contribute to broad international co-operation in the scientific as well as the legal

aspects of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,



<P>	Believing that such co-operation will contribute to the development of mutual understanding and

to the strengthening of friendly relations between States and peoples,



<P>	Recalling resolution 1962 (XVIII), entitled "Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the

Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space," which was adopted unanimously

by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 1963,



<P>	Recalling resolution 1884 (XVIII), calling upon States to refrain from placing in orbit around the

Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction or

from installing such weapons on celestial bodies, which was adopted unanimously by the United

Nations General Assembly on 17 October 1963,



<P>	Taking account of United Nations General Assembly resolution 110 (II) of 3 November 1947,

which condemned propaganda designed or likely to provoke or encourage any threat to the

peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression, and considering that the aforementioned

resolution is applicable to outer space,



<P>	Convinced that a Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and

Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, will further the Purposes

and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations,



<P>	Have agreed on the following:



<P><center><b>Article I</b></center>



<P>	The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be

carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of

economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.



<P>	Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use

by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with

international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.



<P>	There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the moon and other

celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international co-operation in such

investigation.



<P><center><b>Article II</b></center>



<P>	Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national

appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.



<P><center><b>Article III</b></center>



<P>	States Parties to the Treaty shall carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space,

including the moon and other celestial bodies, in accordance with international law, including the

Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and

promoting international co-operation and understanding.



<P><center><b>Article IV</b></center>



<P>	States Parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying

nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on

celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner.



<P>	The Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used by all States Parties to the Treaty exclusively

for peaceful purposes. The establishment of military bases, installations and fortifications, the

testing of any type of weapons and the conduct of military maneuvers on celestial bodies shall be

forbidden. The use of military personnel for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

shall not be prohibited. The use of any equipment or facility necessary for peaceful exploration

of the Moon and other celestial bodies shall also not be prohibited.



<P><center><b>Article V</b></center>



<P>	States Parties to the Treaty shall regard astronauts as envoys of mankind in outer space and shall

render to them all possible assistance in the event of accident, distress, or emergency landing on

the territory of another State Party or on the high seas. When astronauts make such a landing,

they shall be safely and promptly returned to the State of registry of their space vehicle.



<P>	In carrying on activities in outer space and on celestial bodies, the astronauts of one State Party

shall render all possible assistance to the astronauts of other States Parties.



<P>	States Parties to the Treaty shall immediately inform the other States Parties to the Treaty or the

Secretary-General of the United Nations of any phenomena they discover in outer space,

including the Moon and other celestial bodies, which could constitute a danger to the life or

health of astronauts.



<P><center><b>Article VI</b></center>



<P>	States Parties to the Treaty shall bear international responsibility for national activities in outer

space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, whether such activities are carried on by

governmental agencies or by non-governmental entities, and for assuring that national activities

are carried out in conformity with the provisions set forth in the present Treaty. The activities of

non-governmental entities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall

require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty.

When activities are carried on in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, by

an international organization, responsibility for compliance with this Treaty shall be borne both

by the international organization and by the States Parties to the Treaty participating in such

organization.



<P><center><b>Article VII</b></center>



<P>	Each State Party to the Treaty that launches or procures the launching of an object into outer

space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and each State Party from whose territory

or facility an object is launched, is internationally liable for damage to another State Party to the

Treaty or to its natural or juridical persons by such object or its component parts on the Earth, in

air space or in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.



<P><center><b>Article VIII</b></center>



<P>	A State Party to the Treaty on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried shall

retain jurisdiction and control over such object, and over any personnel thereof, while in outer

space or on a celestial body. Ownership of objects launched into outer space, including objects

landed or constructed on a celestial body, and of their component parts, is not affected by their

presence in outer space or on a celestial body or by their return to the Earth. Such objects or

component parts found beyond the limits of the State Party to the Treaty on whose registry they

are carried shall be returned to that State Party, which shall, upon request, furnish identifying

data prior to their return.



<P><center><b>Article IX</b></center>



<P>	In the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, States

Parties to the Treaty shall be guided by the principle of co-operation and mutual assistance and

shall conduct all their activities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies,

with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other States Parties to the Treaty. States

Parties to the Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial

bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful contamination and also

adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial

matter and, where necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose. If a State Party to

the Treaty has reason to believe that an activity or experiment planned by it or its nationals in

outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, would cause potentially harmful

interference with activities of other States Parties in the peaceful exploration and use of outer

space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, it shall undertake appropriate international

consultations before proceeding with any such activity or experiment. A State Party to the Treaty

which has reason to believe that an activity or experiment planned by another State Party in outer

space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, would cause potentially harmful

interference with activities in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, including the

Moon and other celestial bodies, may request consultation concerning the activity or experiment.



<P><center><b>Article X</b></center>



<P>	In order to promote international co-operation in the exploration and use of outer space,

including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity with the purposes of this Treaty, the

States Parties to the Treaty shall consider on a basis of equality any requests by other States

Parties to the Treaty to be afforded an opportunity to observe the flight of space objects launched

by those States.



<P>	The nature of such an opportunity for observation and the conditions under which it could be

afforded shall be determined by agreement between the States concerned.



<P><center></center>



<P><center><b>Article XI</b>



<P></center>

	In order to promote international co-operation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space,

States Parties to the Treaty conducting activities in outer space, including the Moon and other

celestial bodies, agree to inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as the public and the international scientific community, to

the greatest extent feasible and practicable, of the nature, conduct, locations and results of such

activities. On receiving the said information, the Secretary-General of the United Nations should

be prepared to disseminate it immediately and effectively.



<P><center><b>Article XII</b></center>



<P>	All stations, installations, equipment and space vehicles on the Moon and other celestial bodies

shall be open to representatives of other States Parties to the Treaty on a basis of reciprocity.

Such representatives shall give reasonable advance notice of a projected visit, in order that

appropriate consultations may be held and that maximum precautions may be taken to assure

safety and to avoid interference with normal operations in the facility to be visited.



<P><center><b>Article XIII</b></center>



<P>	The provisions of this Treaty shall apply to the activities of States Parties to the Treaty in the

exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, whether such

activities are carried on by a single State Party to the Treaty or jointly with other States,

including cases where they are carried on within the framework of international

intergovernmental organizations.



<P>	Any practical questions arising in connection with activities carried on by international

inter-governmental organizations in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon

and other celestial bodies, shall be resolved by the States Parties to the Treaty either with the

appropriate international organization or with one or more States members of that international

organization, which are Parties to this Treaty.



<P><center><b>Article XIV</b>



<P></center>

		1. This Treaty shall be open to all States for signature. Any State which does not sign this Treaty

before its entry into force in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may accede to it at any

time.



<P>	2. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification by signatory States. Instruments of ratification and

instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Governments of the United States of

America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics, which are hereby designated the Depositary Governments.



<P>	3. This Treaty shall enter into force upon the deposit of instruments of ratification by five

Governments including the Governments designated as Depositary Governments under this

Treaty.



<P>	4. For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited subsequent to the entry

into force of this Treaty, it shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of their instruments of

ratification or accession.



<P>	5. The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding States of the

date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification of and accession to

this Treaty, the date of its entry into force and other notices.



<P>	6. This Treaty shall be registered by the Depositary Governments pursuant to Article 102 of the

Charter of the United Nations.



<P><center><b>Article XV</b></center>



<P>	Any State Party to the Treaty may propose amendments to this Treaty. Amendments shall enter

into force for each State Party to the Treaty accepting the amendments upon their acceptance by

a majority of the States Parties to the Treaty and thereafter for each remaining State Party to the

Treaty on the date of acceptance by it.



<P><center><b>Article XVI</b>



<P></center>

	Any State Party to the Treaty may give notice of its withdrawal from the Treaty one year after its

entry into force by written notification to the Depositary Governments. Such withdrawal shall

take effect one year from the date of receipt of this notification.



<P><center><b>Article XVII</b>



<P></center>

	This Treaty, of which the English, Russian, French, Spanish and Chinese texts are equally

authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Depositary Governments. Duly certified

copies of this Treaty shall be transmitted by the Depositary Governments to the Governments of

the signatory and acceding States.



<P><b>	IN WITNESS WHEREOF</b> the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Treaty.



<P><b>	DONE</b> in triplicate, at the cities of Washington, London and Moscow, this twenty-seventh day of

January one thousand nine hundred sixty-seven.



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