non-appropriation-principle

This appendix presents the International Cooperation Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1961, emphasizing the peaceful use of outer space through international cooperation. It outlines principles such as the application of international law to outer space, the non-appropriation of celestial bodies by any nation, and the establishment of mechanisms for information exchange, registration of space objects, and collaborative scientific efforts in meteorology and satellite communications. The resolution also addresses the continuation and expansion of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to oversee these cooperative activities.

This chapter presents the Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It outlines fundamental principles such as the non-appropriation of outer space by any state, the requirement for peaceful use and international cooperation, state responsibility for national and non-governmental space activities, and the treatment of astronauts as envoys of mankind. The declaration establishes a legal framework emphasizing equality, liability, and mutual assistance in outer space activities.

This appendix outlines the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) interpretations and clarifications regarding specific articles of the Moon Agreement. It emphasizes that the principles of non-appropriation and resource use apply broadly to celestial bodies beyond Earth, clarifies the scope of trajectories and orbits in space law, and affirms that exploitation of extraterrestrial natural resources should minimize environmental disruption. These understandings aim to guide the implementation of the Moon Agreement without amending its original text.