Outer Space Treaty
About the Outer Space Treaty
Bars weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies, the moon and planets for peaceful use, no national appropriation, and astronauts as envoys of mankind. Born of the 1962 crisis and fears of orbiting nukes, it remains the constitution of space law. Private space mining and lunar bases now test its no appropriation language. ASAT tests, debris, and moon bases drive current amendment debates.
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