If we fail to act now to control such weapons and to implement proposed guidelines to limit the debris resulting from routine space activities, it could soon be difficult to continue using parts of space for peaceful purposes.
One way forward is illustrated by the Outer Space Treaty, which became part of international law on 10 October 1967. In the 40 years since, it has been ratified by nearly 100 states, including all the current spacefaring countries.
We need to develop international "rules of the road" that coordinate and regulate how countries operate in space.
The treaty was hugely significant. A decade after the space age began, the international community recognised that space needed governing laws and principles to sustain its peaceful use. With the Outer Space Treaty, the world took an important step towards developing these laws: for example, by banning the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space or on celestial objects, and stating that parties to the treaty would conduct space activities in accordance with the UN's charter.
The 40th anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty would be a good time to revisit its goals and update space law, not least by banning the intentional destruction of satellites. We need to develop international "rules of the road" that coordinate and regulate how countries operate in space.
While we look back at the achievements of half a century in space, we should look ahead too, and make it a priority to safeguard our common heritage in space and our security on Earth.
Laura Grego is a staff scientist in the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington DC. Back to page one.
Published on 30 October 2007
