Space object. The legal status of space objects
We know that human civilizationhas a variety of types of property and resources. All of them are ordered, and changes in themselves or in their legal status are subject to certain rules. But if it's about something that is not on the planet Earth? What laws come into force here and how do they differ from the earthly ones? Is it possible for an individual to acquire a spaceship, a site on another planet, or even a whole star? Details and definitions you will learn from this article.
What is a space object?
If you look at the night sky with a telescope orjust with the naked eye, you can see many heavenly bodies. Stars, nebulae, planets with their satellites, comets, asteroids, etc. - all this is formed and continues to form naturally. There are also objects that were created by man and launched into space for scientific purposes. These are space stations, ships, installations, shuttles, satellites, probes, missiles and other equipment.
All these natural and artificial celestialbodies are in space beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. Therefore, to each of them you can apply the concept of "space object". And all issues related to their research are regulated by international law.
Space infrastructure
Under the infrastructure in this case means a set of interrelated objects that ensure the effective functioning of the system of space exploration.
As follows from the law of the Russian Federation "On space activities", the objects of the space terrestrial infrastructure are a lot of structures and devices that perform various functions.
Among them are those that are used in the preparatory phase:
- space technology storage base;
- specialized vehicles, materials, components, finished products, etc .;
- equipped training centers for cosmonauts;
- experimental objects for testing the launching technique, flight, landing and other tasks.
Other objects of space infrastructure become necessary already for the direct process of organizing flights:
- cosmodromes;
- launchers, launching complexes and auxiliary equipment;
- landing landfills and runways for space objects;
- flight control centers;
- areas of the fall of the separated parts of space objects.
Separately, there are objects that serve to collect, store and analyze important information:
- points of reception, storage and processing of information on flights;
- command-measuring complexes.
Space legislation
There are a number of international and national codes of rules governing the use of outer space. These include:
- The Treaty on Outer Space (1967).
- Agreement on the rescue of astronauts and the return of objects (parts thereof) launched into outer space (1968).
- Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972).
- Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975).
Who owns the apparatus and the heavenly bodies?
In addition to international laws on outer space,most states have their own. State registration of space objects in our country is carried out in the manner determined by the government of the Russian Federation. For these purposes, there is a Unified State Register, in which all information about ownership rights to various kinds of apparatus and parts thereof is entered. The registry contains information on both the space-launched and non-used equipment.
From the point of view of law, a cosmic objectis everything that exists outside the limits of the atmosphere of our planet, and everything that was launched from Earth into interstellar space. Natural objects (planets, asteroids, etc.) legally belong to all mankind, and man-made (satellites, aircraft) are the property of a particular power. At the same time, responsibility for how a particular space object is used lies with the state that owns it.
Who is the master of the cosmos?
Above 110 km above sea level,a zone that is considered a cosmic space and no longer belongs to any state on the planet. It is legislatively enshrined that each country has an equal right to participate in the study of this space.
But there are controversial situations, when this or thatthe space object during take-off (landing) is forced to pass through the airspace of another state. There are rules on this score. For example, in Russia there is a law "On space activities", on the basis of which a foreign spacecraft is allowed to a single flight through the airspace of the Russian Federation, if this was previously notified to the state authorities.
Spacecraft on a par withsea ships and airplanes can be sold or bought by individuals and legal entities. At the same time, being inscribed in the country's register, the device can be owned by a foreign state, company or individual.
Is it possible to give a name to the heavenly body?
The universe has a huge number of stars,and only a small percentage of them have names. Therefore, it does not surprise the appearance of such a service: for a certain fee it is possible to give any nameless celestial body any name you like and get a confirming certificate.
But for those who want to spend their money onyou should know that nothing in this procedure has legal force. Indeed, in fact it is engaged in the International Astronomical Union - a non-governmental scientific association, whose tasks include fixing the boundaries of all known constellations and registering space objects. Only the catalog formed by this organization can be called official and present.
Of course, there are others:for example, the star catalog of the urban observatory, as well as any other organization or individual. You can enter new names of stars or asteroids, but to charge money for this is a form of fraud. Only the international scientific community can change the names of space objects.
Can I buy a site on another planet?
For example, on the Moon, Mars or elsewhere in ourThe solar system? Currently, there are even firms with offices around the world, offering a round sum for the original purchase such property.
But this is a fiction, because such a dealis invalid from a legal point of view. After all, the legal status of space objects is such that they belong to the entire population of the Earth, but none of the countries individually. Contracts for sale and purchase can be concluded only on the basis of state law. So, there is no law - there is no opportunity to acquire a piece of another planet, except the Earth.
What are cosmonauts' rights and responsibilities?
On the spacecraft (stations, etc.), the legislation of the state applies, to which this apparatus is attributed.
All space research is conducted on the basis of international cooperation and mutual assistance.
Astronauts (astronauts), being outside of the Earth, are obliged to render each other every possible help.
If the spacecraft is crashed ormade a forced landing in the territory of another country, then the local authorities are obliged to help the crew together with the party that launched it. Then, as soon as possible, transport cosmonauts along with the ship to the territory of the state in whose registry it is located. The same applies to individual parts of the aircraft - they must be returned to the party that launched. She also incurs the search costs.
The moon is used by all countries only for peaceful research purposes. The deployment of military bases and any militaristic activities (exercises, tests) on the Earth's satellite are categorically prohibited.
What happens if another life in the universe is discovered?
At present, this possibility is notis refuted by scholars. But it is not taken into account in the space legislation. For example, if new forms of life are discovered on one of the open planets (it does not matter, reasonable or not), then the construction of legal relations between them and earthmen is impossible. So, it is not known what to do to humanity in the event that somewhere in the cosmos there are "neighbors". There are no corresponding laws, and by default all planets with their possible inhabitants are the property of the terrestrial community.
Planets, stars, comets, asteroids, interplanetaryaircraft, satellites, orbital stations and much more - all this is included in the concept of "space object". To such natural and artificial objects, special laws are adopted, both at the international level and at the level of individual states of the Earth.
