Abstract
An examination of the mandates of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the Conference on Disarmament (CD) reveals that their individual mandates do not necessarily encompass all uses of outer space. Rather, depending on the interpretation of their mandates, the military use of outer space can be discussed in either forum or in neither. This begs the question in which forum the military uses of outer space are discussed internationally. This question is the focal point of this book. This introduction outlines the importance of this question by describing the extent of the military use of outer space. Furthermore, it lays out the structure of the research, which is divided into three parts. First, the research will examine the initial mandates given to COPUOS and the CD. Second, the research will analyse the further development and practical interpretation of those mandates. Finally, the research will assess the effectiveness of the current UN space-related framework to cope with near to medium future space matters that affect both the military and non-military use of outer space.
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Notes
- 1.
Peter Jankowitsch, ‘The Background and History of Space Law’ in Frans von der Dunk & Fabio Tronchetti (eds), Handbook of Space Law (Edward Elgar Publishing 2015) 18.
- 2.
UNGA Res 1472 (XIV) (12 December 1959).
- 3.
UNGA Res 1348 (XIII) (13 December 1958).
- 4.
Fabio Tronchetti, ‘Legal Aspects of the Military Uses of Outer Space’ in Frans von der Dunk & Fabio Tronchetti (eds), Handbook of Space Law (Edward Elgar Publishing 2015) 331 | David A. Koplow, ‘The Fault Is Not in Our Stars: Avoiding an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (2018) 59 Harvard International Law Journal 331, 335–336 | Anél Ferreira-Snyman, ‘Selected Legal Challenges Relating to the Military Use of Outer Space, With Specific Reference to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty’ (2015) 18 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal 488, 495–496.
- 5.
Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (adopted 19 December 1966, entered into force 10 October 1967) 610 UNTS 205 [OST].
- 6.
Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (adopted 18 December 1979, entered into force 11 July 1984) 1363 UNTS 3 [MOON].
- 7.
Charter of the United Nations (adopted 26 June 1945, entered into force 24 October 1945) [UN Charter] | Steven Freeland, ‘In Heaven as on Earth? The International Legal Regulation of the Military Use of Outer Space’ (2011) 8 U.S.-China Law Review 272, 276–277 | Francis Grimal & Jae Sundaram, ‘The Incremental Militarization of Outer Space: A Threshold Analysis’ (2018) 17 Chinese Journal of International Law 45, 55 | Anél Ferreira-Snyman, ‘Selected Legal Challenges Relating to the Military Use of Outer Space, With Specific Reference to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty’ (2015) 18 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal 488, 494–495.
- 8.
Steven Freeland, ‘In Heaven as on Earth? The International Legal Regulation of the Military Use of Outer Space’ (2011) 8 U.S.-China Law Review 272, 276–277 | Francis Grimal & Jae Sundaram, ‘The Incremental Militarization of Outer Space: A Threshold Analysis’ (2018) 17 Chinese Journal of International Law 45, 55 | Anél Ferreira-Snyman, ‘Selected Legal Challenges Relating to the Military Use of Outer Space, With Specific Reference to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty’ (2015) 18 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal 488, 494–495.
- 9.
David A. Koplow, ‘The Fault Is Not in Our Stars: Avoiding an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (2018) 59 Harvard International Law Journal 331, 348 | Francis Grimal & Jae Sundaram, ‘The Incremental Militarization of Outer Space: A Threshold Analysis’ (2018) 17 Chinese Journal of International Law 45, 55.
- 10.
David A. Koplow, ‘The Fault Is Not in Our Stars: Avoiding an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (2018) 59 Harvard International Law Journal 331, 348 | Francis Grimal & Jae Sundaram, ‘The Incremental Militarization of Outer Space: A Threshold Analysis’ (2018) 17 Chinese Journal of International Law 45, 55.
- 11.
Fabio Tronchetti, ‘Legal Aspects of the Military Uses of Outer Space’ in Frans von der Dunk & Fabio Tronchetti (eds), Handbook of Space Law (Edward Elgar Publishing 2015) 338 | Anél Ferreira-Snyman, ‘Selected Legal Challenges Relating to the Military Use of Outer Space, With Specific Reference to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty’ (2015) 18 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal 488, 495–496 | Francis Grimal & Jae Sundaram, ‘The Incremental Militarization of Outer Space: A Threshold Analysis’ (2018) 17 Chinese Journal of International Law 45, 48.
- 12.
Treaty Banning Nuclear Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (adopted 5 August 1963, entered into force 10 October 1963) 480 UNTS 43 [PTBT].
- 13.
UNGA Res S-10/2 (28 June 1978) UN Doc A/RES/S-10/2, par. 80 | UNGA ‘Thirty-Sixth Session Report of the Disarmament Commission’ UN GAOR 36th Session Supp No 42 UN Doc A/36/42 (1981), par. 19.
- 14.
UNGA First Committee (72nd Session) ‘Draft Resolution: Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (13 October 2017) UN Doc A/C.1/72/L.54.
- 15.
David A. Koplow, ‘The Fault Is Not in Our Stars: Avoiding an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (2018) 59 Harvard International Law Journal 331, 335–336 | Anél Ferreira-Snyman, ‘Selected Legal Challenges Relating to the Military Use of Outer Space, With Specific Reference to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty’ (2015) 18 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal 488, 495–496.
- 16.
Steven Freeland, ‘The US Plan for a Space Force Risks Escalating a “Space Arms Race”’ (The Conversation, 10 August 2018) <http://theconversation.com/the-us-plan-for-a-space-force-risks-escalating-a-space-arms-race-101368> accessed 6 December 2018 | Melissa de Zwart, ‘The International Context of Trump’s Space Force’ (Australian Institute of International Affairs, 23 June 2018) <http://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/international-context-trump-space-force/> accessed 6 December 2018 | Babak Shakouri Hassanabadi, ‘Space Force and International Space Law’ (The Space Review, 30 July 2018) <http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3543/1> accessed 6 December 2018.
- 17.
UNGA Res 71/90 (6 December 2016) UN Doc A/RES/71/90, par. 15.
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Froehlich, A., Seffinga, V., Qiu, R. (2020). Introduction. In: Froehlich, A., Seffinga, V. (eds) The United Nations and Space Security. Studies in Space Policy, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06025-1_1
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