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Major Treaties & Membership
The Outer Space Treaty (1967) is the principal multilateral treaty governing
space arms control, due both to its broad framework and its widespread
international support. Other important multilateral treaties include: the
Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963), the Convention on International Liability for
Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972), and the Convention on the Registration of
Space Objects Launched into Outer Space (1976). Today, due to the
fact that many countries have indigenous launch capabilities as well as
civilian, military and commercial space programs, the legitimacy of any space
arms control norm depends on the buy-in of the major
space-faring nations. Without
their support, treaties like the Moon Treaty (1979) are rendered ineffective.
During the Cold War and shortly after the fall of the Soviet
Union, the United States and Russia concluded
several bilateral agreements with space arms control components, namely:
the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty (1972), the Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks (SALT) I Interim Agreement (1972), the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces
(INF) Treaty (1987), and the Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START) I (1991).
Under the second Bush Administration, the United States withdrew from the ABM Treaty in 2002, opening up the possibility of U.S. development,
testing, and deployment of space-based ABM systems.
The U.S. withdrawal from
the ABM Treaty and the Bush Administration's subsequent focus on missile defense
and space-based weapons systems have sparked international debate on the need
for more restrictive space arms control measures.
Initiatives led by
Russia and
China
calling for a multilateral treaty banning
space weapons indicate that there is growing international concern about the
potential for a space arms race. Listed below are the primary treaties and
conventions that govern space arms control, their key provisions, and membership.
Multilateral Treaties
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The Moon Treaty (1979)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
10 parties, 5 signatories
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Bans weapons of mass destruction on, in orbit around, or on a trajectory around the Moon.
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Bans military installations, fortifications and weapons testing on the Moon.
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Requires that the exploration and exploitation of natural resources on the Moon be carried out for the benefit and interest of all countries irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development.
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Convention on the Registration of Space Objects Launched into Outer Space (1976)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
44 parties, 4 signatories
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Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
82 ratifications, 25 signatures
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The Outer Space Treaty (1967)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
97 parties, 27 signatories
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Bans weapons of mass destruction in orbit, on celestial bodies, or stationed in space in any way.
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Bans military installations or fortifications and weapons testing on celestial bodies.
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Bans claiming ownership of territory in space and on celestial bodies.
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Requires prior notification in case of planned harmful activities in space.
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Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
131 parties, 64 signatories
Bilateral Treaties Between the United States and Russia
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Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START) I (1991)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
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Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (1987)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
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Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (1972)
(Full Text)
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Prohibits the development of nation-wide defenses against long-range missiles.
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Bans the development, testing, or deployment of space-based missile defense components.
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Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) I Interim Agreement (1972)
(Full Text)
(Summary)
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