INTERNATIONAL LAW IN OUTER SPACE In addition to the United Nations Charter, five treaties negotiated at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) are considered to form the basis of international space law. The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space,
ABOUT This issue guide is focused on the use of space systems to support military activities on Earth. (For information on the potential use of force or warfighting in outer space, explore Issue Guides related to the security of outer space). By introducing satellite imagery and space-based electronic intelligence collection, the space age broke new
ABOUT The Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability [LTS] of Outer Space Activities are a set of 21 voluntary best practices negotiated and adopted by consensus at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). The guidelines touch on a range of activities aimed at enhancing sustainability of the space environment, safety
ABOUT The core function of satellites is to collect and relay data in real time. To transmit data to ground stations and receive information from ground stations, satellites must access and use radio frequencies from the electromagnetic spectrum. These frequencies are vulnerable to a range of harmful interference techniques that are widely available and frequently
A “space weapon” is generally defined as a space-based or co-orbital weapon system that strikes a target – either in space or on Earth – from orbit. Space-based weapons have been contemplated for decades, although only a few concepts have reached the development stage.