United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

International Space Law

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs is the Secretariat for the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which is the primary international forum for the development of laws and principles governing outer space. In addition to providing parliamentary services, the Office prepares legal studies and background documents on various aspects of space law to assist member States in their deliberations. In accordance with the Action Plan endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/122, the Office provides information and advice, upon request, to governments, non-governmental organizations and the general public on space law in order to promote understanding, acceptance and implementation of the international space law agreements concluded under United Nations auspices.

Whats New:

National Space Law Database: Kazakhstan
- Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Space Activities (No.528-IV of 6 January 2012)

Space Law Workshops
- ST/SPACE/58: Proceedings of the United Nations/Argentina Workshop on Space Law "Contribution of Space Law to Economic and Social Development", 5 to 8 November 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Legal Subcommittee: 2013
- 2013 LSC Session page

General Assembly Resolutions Relating to Outer Space
- A/RES/67/113: International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space

Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts,the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space
- A/AC.105/1040: Notification by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the recovery of a space object discovered within its territory

Travaux Préparatoires
Travaux Préparatoires for the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue Agreement, Liability Convention and the 1963 Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space

Resources available on the United Nations space law web-site:

Full text of the United Nations treaties and principles on space law, including General Assembly resolutions adopting the treaties and principles

Full text of General Assembly resolutions relating to the peaceful uses of outer space

Full text of the annual reports of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish

Unedited Transcripts of the Legal Subcommittee

United Nations Workshops on Space Law

Full text of selected examples of national laws governing space activities

Full text of selected examples of bilateral and multilateral agreements governing space activities

A list of international agreements and other available legal documents relevant to space law (2001) (English only, in PDF format).

Questionnaire on possible Legal Issues with regard to Aerospace Objects: Replies from member States

Full text of legal studies and background documents on space law prepared by the Office for Outer Space Affairs

Space Law: Frequently Asked Questions

Space Law: WWW Links

Please contact us for further information

For further information on space law and related services and activities of our Office, please contact:

Office for Outer Space Affairs
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 500
A-1400 Wien, AUSTRIA
Tel: (+43 1) 26060-4950
Fax: (+43 1) 26060-5830
E-mail: oosa@unvienna.org