Post #28137

📆 On January 27, 1967, the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Outer Space Treaty) was signed. The document declares that space is an area for free use and exploration by all countries for peaceful purposes, on the basis of equality and in compliance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Outer Space Treaty precludes any country from claiming sovereignty over any celestial body and forbids placing weapons of mass destruction in Earth’s orbit or on the Moon. It establishes liability for space activity (regardless of whether it is performed by government authorities or non-government legal entities) and for the damage caused by artificial space objects. ✍️ The document was signed by the USSR, Great Britain and the United States, and came into effect on October 10, 1967. The Outer Space Treaty is the first specialised document that determined the basic principles and standards of international space law. It became the starting point for national activities and international cooperation in the exploration and use of space. Currently, there are 118 state parties to the Outer Space Treaty. ❗️ Russia consistently advocates banning the arms race in outer space and puts forward initiatives intended to prevent it. A key initiative is the Russian-Chinese draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT), submitted to the Conference on Disarmament in February 2008.